Blockchain & AI Meetup in Danang: Building Trust and Efficiency for the Digital Economy

On October 23, 2025, the conference “Blockchain & AI: Building Trust and Efficiency for the Digital Economy” took place at the Maximilan Hotel in Da Nang. Co-hosted by SotaTek and Ekotek, the event welcomed around 50 guests, including technology leaders, business owners, startup founders, and representatives from government and academia.

The conference aimed to reinforce the strategic partnership between SotaTek and Ekotek in advancing digital transformation across Central Vietnam, particularly through the dual engines of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In their opening remarks, both companies emphasized the shared mission of building digital trust and operational efficiency while promoting collaboration within the local innovation ecosystem.

Keynote 1: “Navigating Vietnam’s digital-asset landscape from principles to practice” by Ekotek

Kicking off the event, Mr. Hieu (Mike) Mai – CTO of Ekotek provided an insightful overview of Vietnam’s emerging digital asset infrastructure, where Blockchain is evolving beyond cryptocurrencies toward enterprise applications and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.

He highlighted that Vietnam currently ranks 4th globally in the Chainalysis 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, with over 20% of the population owning digital assets. The recent Resolution 05/2025/NQ-CP, which approved a five-year pilot program for the crypto asset trading market, has laid the legal foundation for innovation and transparency in the sector.

Through the live demo “Whiskey Digital Twin”, Ekotek showcased how Blockchain and IoT technologies can be combined to create a unique digital twin (NFT) for each product unit. In this case, a whiskey bottle. From grain to glass, data such as origin, distillation, and aging conditions are securely logged on-chain, ensuring authenticity, traceability, and anti-counterfeiting. The model not only protects brand integrity but also unlocks new engagement opportunities through token-based loyalty programs and transparent secondary markets.

Keynote 2: “GenAI’s shift from prediction to creation and what it means for Danang’s economy” by SotaTek

In the following session, Mr. Nguyen (Louis) Luu – AI Lead at SotaLabs/SotaTek explored the transformative wave of Generative AI (GenAI), a new phase of artificial intelligence capable of creating original content, synthesizing knowledge, and reasoning like humans.

He noted that 2025 marks a turning point as nearly half of SMEs worldwide have integrated GenAI into their business strategies (PwC, 2025). Across industries such as healthcare, education, logistics, tourism, and public services, GenAI is driving automation, creativity, and productivity gains. According to Mr. Louis, Da Nang is well-positioned to become a regional AI innovation hub, supported by strong government vision, digital infrastructure, and collaboration between government, universities, and private enterprises.

However, he also addressed the multi-dimensional risks of GenAI, including privacy concerns, data leakage, deepfakes, and workforce displacement. His call to action: Vietnam must embrace responsible AI development, invest in digital education and upskilling, and establish ethical and governance frameworks to ensure sustainable growth in the AI-driven era.

Panel Discussion: “From Perception to Practice - Applying Blockchain & AI in Vietnamese Enterprises”

The panel session, featuring Mr. Vo Duc Anh – Deputy Director of Da Nang Department of Science and Technology, alongside speakers from SotaTek and Ekotek, delivered practical insights on how Vietnamese businesses can transition from theory to execution.

Panelists agreed that enterprises are moving past hesitation toward pilot-learn-scale adoption cycles, with leadership vision and human capacity being decisive factors for success. Mr. Duc Anh emphasized Da Nang’s commitment to supporting innovation sandboxes and fostering collaboration between the tech industry and public sector. He also commended SotaTek and Ekotek for their contributions in making Blockchain and AI more accessible to local enterprises, aligning with the city’s vision of a smart government and digital economy.

The event successfully highlighted how Blockchain and AI can serve as foundational technologies for trust, transparency, and efficiency in Vietnam’s digital economy.

SotaTek and Ekotek would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to Da Nang’s Department of Science and Technology, all guest speakers, partners, and attendees for their active participation and valuable insights. The event marks not just a milestone, but a stepping stone toward a more connected, innovative, and tech-empowered Central Vietnam.