In a wide-ranging conversation at Abu Dhabi Finance Week, FintechTV’s Lawrence Wintermeyer spoke with Kamal Youssefi, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Hashgraph Ventures, to discuss the evolution of distributed ledger technology and the long-term vision behind Hedera Hashgraph.
Youssefi outlined the origins of Hedera Hashgraph, which was founded in 2016 by Dr. Leemon Baird and Mance Harmon with the goal of building a next-generation public ledger governed by a council of leading global enterprises. That governance structure, which includes major Fortune 500 companies, was designed to ensure trust, stability, and accountability while maintaining decentralization on behalf of the broader community.
He explained that Hashgraph Ventures was created to accelerate adoption and innovation across the Hedera ecosystem, particularly as developers, startups, and enterprises migrate from Web2 to Web3. Backed by well-established institutional partners, the fund supports projects built on Hedera’s technology and is underpinned by a long-term allocation of approximately $5 billion aimed at attracting talent, funding startups, and strengthening the network’s capabilities.
A defining feature of Hashgraph Ventures is its dual-mandate approach. Youssefi noted that the fund is structured to support both ecosystem growth and commercially viable investments. Projects are evaluated not only on their ability to drive network usage and community value, but also on their potential to deliver meaningful returns, ensuring alignment between innovation and investment discipline.
Looking ahead, Youssefi identified three primary areas of focus for new investments: on-chain finance, sustainability, and Web3 gaming. He pointed to Hedera Hashgraph’s energy-efficient architecture as a natural fit for sustainability-driven use cases. Transactions on the Hedera network consume significantly less energy than traditional payment rails such as Visa or Mastercard, while offering predictable and low transaction costs that appeal to enterprises building scalable business models.
Sustainability, he added, is increasingly influencing decision-making across both finance and technology. As companies seek environmentally responsible infrastructure, Hedera’s design positions it as an attractive option for organizations looking to align performance with environmental considerations.
Web3 gaming and digital engagement also represent a major growth opportunity. Youssefi emphasized that gaming, loyalty programs, and community-driven applications play a crucial role in driving user adoption and network activity. Hedera’s performance and cost certainty make it well suited for these use cases, while also offering investors exposure to fast-growing consumer-facing sectors.
Throughout the discussion, Youssefi returned to the idea that collaboration across the ecosystem is essential for long-term success. By connecting innovators, investors, and enterprises on a common platform, Hedera Hashgraph and Hashgraph Ventures aim to build an environment where technological progress and financial returns can advance together. As Youssefi put it, “We will all win if the Web3 industry wins.”
The conversation underscored Hedera Hashgraph’s growing role in the blockchain landscape and highlighted Hashgraph Ventures’ strategy of pairing sustainability, innovation, and investment discipline. As adoption of distributed ledger technology continues to expand, the approach outlined by Youssefi positions the firm as a key participant in shaping the next phase of digital finance.