Shauli Zacks
Published on: July 20, 2025
Kazé A. Onguene’s journey to founding the Datachain Foundation began with a regulatory challenge—but quickly evolved into a groundbreaking vision for the future of data, finance, and digital ownership. With a background rooted in blockchain and AI innovation, Onguene was driven to develop a decentralized data infrastructure that could meet the demands of GDPR and beyond. Today, the Datachain Foundation is at the forefront of what he calls “phygitization”—a powerful blend of blockchain, digital twins, and AI designed to tokenize real-world assets and reshape how we interact with value itself.
In this SafetyDetectives interview, Kazé shares the story behind the foundation, how AI secures trust in decentralized systems, and why the Internet of Value is more than just a concept—it’s the next stage of financial evolution.
What inspired you to establish the Datachain Foundation, and how has your background in blockchain and AI shaped its mission and direction?
In 2017 the GDPR regulation in application in the European union. At the time Braincities Lab, Datachain Foundation sister company was migrating it human capital development software Picentriq to SAP for Porsche. Since the solution was extracting critical user information, I had to find a way to ensure compliance with the regulation.
This is how I came with Datachain Foundation Distributed data management infrastructure. In the summer of the same year, Max Lautenschlaeger and Patrick Lowry from Iconiq Lab invited me and Braincities Lab to join their blockchain/crypto oriented acceleration program.
The goal, or the challenge was to figure out if we would be able to make the blockchain smarter. We couldn’t but we came with something else, a design inspired by the human DNA: the Datachain Rope and the initial version of the Datawallet.
The foundation operates at the intersection of technology and finance. How do you envision this convergence transforming industries in the near future?
The convergence of technology and finance can be resumed by one simple idea: The Internet of Value. This trend is characterized by the acknowledgement of the value of Data. It is transforming entire industries by endowing digital representation of real world assets with financial value – we talk transitivity of value between the physical to the digital worlds.
This phenomenon is enhancing transparency, while enabling assets that was initially illiquid to be authenticated, tokenized, monetized. In this context, Blockchain is used to ensure trust and transparency, while AI-powered analytics enable data-driven decision-making. In the near future, this convergence will redefine asset management, streamline global trade, and pave the way for decentralized, efficient financial systems.
We believe Tanastok will play a key role in making that reality come to fruition.
Datachain Foundation leverages blockchain technology and digital twins. Can you explain how these technologies work together to create value, especially in tokenizing tangible assets?
This is what we call “phygitization”: Blockchain provides a secure, immutable ledger, while digital twins—virtual representations of physical assets—bridge the physical and digital worlds. Together, they create a robust framework for tokenizing tangible assets.
By linking each token to a digital twin, we can ensure real-time tracking, enhanced transparency, and fraud prevention. For example, tokenizing real estate through digital twins allows investors to trade fractional ownership while maintaining a clear and verifiable connection to the physical property. This combination delivers trust, liquidity, and operational efficiency.
AI-driven solutions are central to your approach. What role does AI play in ensuring data integrity and enhancing user experiences in decentralized systems?
AI plays a crucial role in maintaining data integrity by continuously monitoring for anomalies, verifying authenticity, and enabling predictive analytics.
In decentralized systems relying on distributed databases, libraries of artificial intelligence can be used to deliver unlimited amount of use cases leveraging the data extracted from a variety of entities (human, trees, robots, markets…). AI-driven algorithms ensure seamless interactions, optimize transactions, and personalize user experiences.
For instance, AI enhances Datachain Foundation’s platform by providing tailored investment recommendations, automating compliance checks, and improving security. This integration of AI ensures that our users can trust the system while benefiting from a more intuitive and efficient experience.
Your work includes combating counterfeiting and enabling data sovereignty. What are the key challenges in these areas, and how does Datachain Foundation overcome them?
Counterfeit assets undermine trust, while centralized data storage risks breaches and misuse. Datachain Foundation addresses these issues through blockchain’s immutability and decentralization. Fighting Counterfeiting is not our main goal. It is a consequence, not the objective.
Redefining ownership in the digital age involves being able to authenticating any type of assets by combining computer vision with NLP and blockchain technology. Being able to differentiating an asset from hundreds of nearly identical counterparts is a significant challenges in a digitized world. Every asset tokenized on our platform undergoes rigorous verification, and AI-powered tools detect anomalies and flag potential fraud.
Additionally, decentralized identity solutions give users full control over their data, ensuring it is shared only with their consent. By combining cutting-edge technology with robust governance frameworks, we create an ecosystem where authenticity and user control are paramount.
Looking ahead, what innovations or advancements in blockchain and AI do you see as most critical to achieving Datachain Foundation’s long-term goals?
Two critical advancements stand out: interoperability and enhanced privacy. Interoperability across blockchains will enable seamless asset transfers and data sharing, expanding our ecosystem’s reach and usability.
- Enhanced privacy technologies, such as zero-knowledge proofs, will ensure user confidentiality while maintaining transparency.
- On the AI front, advances in machine learning and natural language processing will allow for more sophisticated analytics and personalized experiences.
These innovations will solidify Datachain Foundation’s position as a leader in tokenized assets and decentralized finance, driving us closer to our vision of a more inclusive, transparent financial future.
