HashKey launches its first AI-driven product, ModAI

On April 3, the Hong Kong-based crypto exchange has taken its first step into the field of artificial intelligence with the release of its latest product, ModAI.

Hong Kong-based crypto exchange HashKey has launched its first AI-driven product, ModAI, and is planning to expand its product to include AI agents that can trade on the blockchain.

The exchange, which is fully licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), took its first step into the field of artificial intelligence with the release of its latest product on April 3.

According to HashKey’s official website, its ModAI is capable of several functions, including moderating content, generating virtual avatars, engaging with users as a chatbot and offering customer support.

The company also stated that the AI-driven tool could potentially cut down operational costs by 80% and double user engagement.

ModAI uses a combination of large language models or LLMs, which include DeepSeek, OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) (formerly Facebook). The AI tool can respond to users in different languages, ranging from Chinese, English, Japanese, and Vietnamese.

HashKey also plans to add more languages to its knowledge base later within this year.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post, HashKey’s vice-president of product and head of the AI team, Sean Wang, said that the crypto firm initially planned to develop its own LLM, but decided against it due to the high cost needed to create one.

Instead, HashKey opted to integrate several existing LLMs into its own AI tool, which would be more efficient for the company.

On the other hand, Wang said the company plans to expand its AI tool to include AI agents that can perform various tasks for users.

One of the tasks HashKey (HK:8033) hopes its AI agents will be able to do in the future is automatically invest in crypto assets based on a user’s capital and target returns, Wang explained.

“For example, if a user has $100,000 capital and hopes to achieve 10% returns in the next six months, then our AI agent could help the user to achieve these goals.”

AI agents have been a hot topic in crypto spaces as traders gravitate towards the ease and innovations offered by these agents in managing their finances. However, some have also criticized their utility and function in the crypto community.

Recently, Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao said that most of the time, AI agent developers spend too much time focusing on developing a token for their AI agent instead of the agent’s usefulness.

Therefore, he recommended developers to make a “really good agent first” before launching a token.

Earlier in January, CZ also criticized AI chatbots for bring “lazy” because they can only tell users what they already know, instead of being able to provide them with new information.

“The problem with AI Chatbots is that, often, I don't know what I don't know. I don't know what to ask. It would be good if it could just tell me things I should know. So lazy,” wrote CZ in his post.

Last month, HashKey launched a new initiative that would rate cryptocurrencies and crypto exchanges in Hong Kong to help the local crypto companies comply with the region’s regulatory framework for virtual assets.