Jason Zhao, co-founder of the blockchain platform Story Protocol, has announced the completion of his full-time role at the company and his transition to new projects in the field of artificial intelligence.
This is reported by Finway
New Focus: Startup Poseidon and the “Industrial Revolution”
Zhao stated that he is leaving his full-time position at Story Protocol but will remain a strategic advisor to the company. His main priority will be his own artificial intelligence startup – Poseidon. According to him, this project is linked to a “new industrial revolution” and opens up opportunities for him to pursue his long-standing passion for applying AI in science and space technologies.
“After 3.5 years of building Story from the ground up, I am stepping down from my position. However, I will remain closely involved as a strategic advisor,” Zhao said.
He emphasized that working on Poseidon has rekindled his interest from the days of DeepMind – in utilizing artificial intelligence in key industries. Zhao believes that modern language models are just the beginning of the rapid development of “smart technologies,” which will soon encompass robotics, biopharmaceuticals, and the space sector.
Changes in Leadership at Story Protocol and Community Reaction
Zhao described his work on Story Protocol as “the most significant experience of my life,” recalling how a project that started as a sketch on a board at the age of 22 grew into a large-scale network supporting intellectual property from Balmain to BTS. The platform has already attracted over $130 million in investments, including from a16z, and facilitates millions of transactions.
Following Zhao’s departure, the company is entering a “second chapter” of its development. Sun Yun (SY) will lead Story Protocol, Andrea Muttoni will become the new product director, and Sandeep will be responsible for the artificial intelligence division.
However, the news has sparked mixed reactions within the community. Some users expressed criticism regarding the lack of clear products and long-term strategy at Story Protocol, as well as the timing of Zhao’s departure shortly after the token generation event.
It is worth noting that in February 2025, Story Protocol introduced the tokenomics of its own IP network asset, amounting to 1 billion tokens. Recently, the company also conducted a private token sale totaling $82 million.