Jason Zhao Steps Back From Story Protocol, Shifts Focus to AI Venture
Jason Zhao, one of the minds behind Story Protocol, is moving on from his full-time role at the blockchain project he helped create. After more than three years building the platform from the ground up, Zhao made the announcement in a social media post earlier this week. He’ll stay on as an adviser but is turning his attention to something new—an AI initiative called Poseidon.
It’s one of those shifts that feels both sudden and inevitable. Zhao mentioned reconnecting with an old passion from his time at DeepMind: applying artificial intelligence to fields like biopharma, robotics, and even space exploration. “Language generation is just the start,” he wrote. “If this works, it could change everything.”
What’s Next for Story Protocol?
Story Protocol launched in 2021 with the idea of making intellectual property more transparent and manageable using blockchain. The goal was simple—let creators register and monetize their work without jumping through endless legal hoops. It caught on fast, pulling in over $130 million in funding from big-name backers like a16z.
Now, leadership will fully transition to co-founder SY Lee, who takes over as CEO. Andrea, the chief product officer, and Sandeep, the chief AI officer, will keep things running as usual. Zhao didn’t just walk away, though. He called Story Protocol “the most meaningful experience of my life” and plans to stay involved through partnerships and investments.
Why the Move Now?
It’s hard to say exactly why Zhao chose this moment to step back. Maybe he felt the project was stable enough to hand off. Or maybe the pull of AI was just too strong. He didn’t go into much detail, but his excitement about Poseidon was obvious.
The timing is interesting, though. Story Protocol’s token, IP, has been holding steady—trading just above $5.80 at last check, with a slight uptick. That’s not explosive growth, but it’s not a crash either. The project seems to be in decent shape.
Still, founders leaving always raises questions. Will Story Protocol keep growing without Zhao’s day-to-day involvement? Can Poseidon actually deliver on the big promises he’s hinting at? There’s no way to know yet.
For now, it’s just another shift in the tech world—where people and ideas are always moving, always changing. Zhao’s next chapter could be huge, or it could fizzle out. Either way, he’s not done trying to push things forward.
