Kadena Launches $50M Grant Program to Advance Chainweb EVM, RWA Tokenization, and AI-Driven Blockchain Solutions

Kadena, a public Layer-1 PoW blockchain, is launching a $50 million grant program to advance Chainweb EVM, real-world asset tokenization, and AI-driven blockchain solutions.

Kadena, a public Layer-1 PoW blockchain, is launching a $50 million grant program to advance Chainweb EVM, real-world asset tokenization, and AI-driven blockchain solutions.

Applicants may now apply for equity-free funding via an open portal. The program builds on Kadena’s low-fee, parallel-chain proof-of-work L1 network.

Half of the fund, $25 million, will support compliant issuance of real-world tokenized assets. Projects may cover debt instruments, money market funds, government bonds, real estate tokenization, and support new asset classes like art or collectibles.

Applicants can adopt Kadena’s upcoming RWA token standard that enforces on-chain permissions and regulatory controls. The grant committee will size awards to each project’s scope and review proposals on a case-by-case basis.

The remaining $25 million will support projects on Kadena’s multi-chain EVM-compatible network and AI integrations. Developers may deploy Solidity-based dApps, decentralized exchanges, or DeFi and GameFi applications on the Chainweb EVM network, where they can benefit from low gas fees, high scalability, and strong security. While Pact, a Turing-incomplete smart contract language built for safety and audits, remains available within the Kadena ecosystem, the primary goal is to support Solidity developers building on Chainweb EVM.

Also, AI-focused grants will fund applications that merge artificial intelligence with blockchain data. Examples of eligible ideas include automated contract analysis, on-chain prediction models, and AI-based identity verification.

Applications follow a rolling review process without fixed deadlines. The grants committee aims to complete initial evaluations of proposals within two to four weeks. Approved teams will join an onboarding call to define milestones and receive token transfers upon each milestone’s completion.

“Kadena’s mission is to unite the transformative potential of blockchain with the reliability of traditional finance systems,” said Stuart Popejoy, Kadena’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our Grants Program and token standards are essential to that mission—enabling compliant, scalable tokenization, empowering builders on Chainweb EVM, and fostering AI innovation. We’re doubling down on the ecosystem real-world use cases institutions need.”

Eligible teams and projects will gain more than just funding. Kadena’s business development and solutions teams will provide technical assistance, including code reviews, Pact language guidance, and user interface feedback. Support is offered both on request and proactively throughout a project’s lifecycle.

Kadena will highlight grantee projects with Grantee Spotlight features, which may include articles, social media amplification, and other promotional efforts.

This initiative ties to Kadena’s recent roadmap enhancements. Permissioning controls will regulate token flows, and an updated governance process will speed up proposal reviews. A fast bridge will link the network’s native token with Ethereum and future support for external Layer 2s.

For each project that receives the grant, success will be measured by increased on-chain activity, new wallet growth, and community engagement in the project. The grant team will monitor developer feedback and online sentiment to adjust support.

Overall, Kadena will support projects that expand the network’s reach and deliver real value. This program will shape the development of the ecosystem of Kadena’s scalable, secure blockchain.

About Kadena

Kadena is a public Layer-1 blockchain launched in the U.S. in 2016 by Stuart Popejoy and Will Martino, the creators of J.P. Morgan’s first blockchain and the leaders of the SEC’s Crypto Committee. Kadena delivers industry-leading performance as the only scalable Layer-1 Proof of Work blockchain and offers full EVM compatibility to run Solidity and Pact smart contracts, delivering low fees, high throughput, and enterprise-grade security. Builders use Kadena to deploy DeFi protocols, tokenize real-world assets, and integrate AI-driven applications on a scalable, secure platform.

At its core, Kadena implements Chainweb, a braided, parallel-chain architecture that runs many chains concurrently while interlinking them via cross-chain uncle-proofs. With dedicated grants, developer tools, and enterprise permissioning, Kadena empowers teams to build DeFi, AI, and tokenization projects on a scalable, low-cost blockchain.