In an exclusive interview, we sit down with Yukai Tu, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at CARV, to explore the future of AI chain ecosystems and data sovereignty. With deep experience in confidential computing and blockchain, Yukai shares his vision for revolutionizing how AI agents interact with data while preserving user privacy. As CARV pioneers new ground in combining AI advancement with data sovereignty, Yukai offers insights into their groundbreaking D.A.T.A Framework and the future of ethical AI development.
Q1. Can you briefly introduce CARV and describe its goal and services in the blockchain sector?
CARV is on a mission to revolutionize the evolution of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) by solving one of its most critical challenges – data sovereignty. We believe AGI can only advance through two fundamental pillars – computing power and high-quality data – and since day one have been dedicated to building the most robust decentralized data infrastructure, thereby enabling the aggregation, sharing, and refinement of both on-chain and off-chain data.
We achieve this through four core innovations:
- CARV SVM Chain, which combines Solana’s scalability and Ethereum’s security for trustless consensus and verifiable execution
- D.A.T.A Framework, which empowers AI Agents with high-quality on-chain and off-chain data enriched by actionable metrics
- CARV ID, which powers the D.A.T.A. Framework by unifying fragmented data, enabling deeper context through enriched tags and metrics
- CARV Labs, which accelerates innovation in the AI agentic infrastructure enabling data sovereignty with incubations, grants, and infrastructure
At its core, CARV is creating an environment where AI agents can operate securely and intelligently while preserving user information. This is vital to get right as agents go mainstream and we entrust them with evermore personal and professional tasks.
Q2. According to you, what led to the D.A.T.A Framework’s development and what are the issues which it attempts to resolve in the blockchain and AI integration?
AI is only as good as the data it can access and understand. And, in today’s decentralized landscape, fragmented and inaccessible data limits the potential of artificial general intelligence. So, our framework specifically addresses these limitations by transforming static data into actionable insights.
The D.A.T.A Framework (Data Authentication, Trust, and Attestation) serves as the eyes and ears for agents, enabling them to perceive, interpret, and act on data across decentralized ecosystems. It solves critical challenges by providing real-time decision-making capabilities while maintaining strict privacy and security standards (more on that below).
What we’re tackling here is threefold: the enrichment of raw data with actionable metrics and tags, seamless integration of cross-chain and off-chain data sources, and the establishment of a trust layer that ensures data integrity. The result? AI agents can finally make smart, real-time decisions in a way that’s both secure and transparent.
Q3. As CARV pays considerable attention to data sovereignty, what measures does it take to guarantee consumers’ control over data?
Data sovereignty is baked into our stack at multiple levels. Through CARV ID (ERC7231), we’ve created a system that allows users to aggregate and control their cross-chain and off-chain identities, deciding exactly how their data is used and shared. Think of it as a master key that gives users complete control over their digital footprint while offering AI agents access to the insights they need – but only with explicit permission and within defined boundaries.
Likewise, infrastructurally, our CARV SVM Chain leverages Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to ensure data privacy and security at every step. This means users can be confident their data is in safe hands even as it’s being processed.
Going into web3 and the AI revolution, users deserve to be compensated for the insights and information they help generate. That’s why our ecosystem lets them truly own their data, choose how it’s monetized, and maintain control over their digital identity – always.
Q4. How does CARV enable secure data monetization by users within its ecosystem?
This is a great question – it’s built around our modular data layer that fundamentally reimagines data monetization. Through the CARV protocol, users can selectively share their data and receive automatic compensation when it’s used, all while maintaining complete control. Our six-layer architecture, from identity management to verification, ensures every transaction is secure, transparent, and fairly rewarded.
What makes this particularly powerful is how it benefits both sides of the equation. For users, it means they can (finally) monetize their online activity. For developers and AI systems, it means access to high-quality, ready-for-training data reinforced by human feedback, all validated through secure protocols. Consent and privacy are the cornerstones of creating an ethical data-sharing ecosystem.
Q5. What role do consumer trust and data privacy play in mainstream adoption and how does CARV prioritize them in line with its user-first approach?
They’re non-negotiables. Agents are intended as assistants for everything. But, without implicit trust, they won’t get to that level. That’s why we’re prioritizing data respect and privacy through technical implementation and ecosystem design. Again, backed by TEEs and ZKPs, our stack ensures privacy at the protocol level while our D.A.T.A Framework creates a transparent system where users always maintain control over their information.
This isn’t just about protection – it’s about empowerment. When users trust the tech, they’re more willing to participate in the ecosystem, share valuable data, and engage in meaningful ways with AI agents. This is how we achieve mainstream adoption while encouraging a virtuous cycle where better data leads to better AI.
Q6. With the D.A.T.A Framework being focused on streamlining the interaction with off-chain and on-chain data, what real-world applications does this technology serve?
The potential real-world applications are incredibly exciting, and we’re already in discussions with partners across several key sectors:
In trading and finance, autonomous bots can analyze blockchain activity in real time, identifying market opportunities and executing trades with unprecedented precision.
In gaming, intelligent NPCs and companions can learn and adapt to create more engaging, personalized experiences.
In decentralized science (DeSci), privacy-preserved research collaborations can accelerate breakthroughs in medicine and other scientific fields.
In personalized AI companionship, agents can offer emotionally intelligent support by understanding a user’s complete digital footprint
Q7. In your viewpoint, how does CARV ensure the reliability and accuracy of the data for AI agents?
We’re bringing much-needed traceability and transparency to the data feeding AI agents. This is an issue that we don’t want to import from large language models like ChatGPT. Instead, we ensure data provenance and sovereignty through blockchain ledgers and back it up with our various frameworks – enriching verified data with actionable metrics and tags, maintaining privacy and security with trustless execution, and providing high-quality, authenticated data for reliable decision-making.
Q8. What is the contribution of the integration between CARV and the Solana Sealevel Virtual Machine in boosting security and scalability to increase AI agent efficiency?
Our SVM Chain represents a significant technological advancement by extending SVM’s capabilities onto Ethereum. This integration combines the best of both worlds: Solana’s exceptional scalability and transaction speeds with Ethereum’s battle-tested security model.
Through this hybrid approach, AI agents can operate autonomously and interact with data end-to-end. The result is an infrastructure that can handle the high-throughput demands of AI operations while ensuring every transaction and interaction remains verifiable. This one-two punch of scalability and security is crucial for enabling this next wave of agentic adoption.
Q9. Keeping in view the mounting worldwide scrutiny targeting ethics in the AI realm, how does CARV create a balance between data accessibility and responsible AI advancement?
We believe AI advancement doesn’t have to come at the expense of innovation or accessibility. That’s why we’ve architected our entire stack around ethical principles – data sovereignty, user consent, and privacy-preserving technologies.
Our approach enables AI development with large quantities of high-quality data, but crucially, it’s data reinforced by human feedback and governed by known standards. The D.A.T.A Framework ensures that while AI agents can access the insights they need, users maintain control through cryptographic proofs.
This balance creates a more sustainable path forward for AI, where advancement is driven by consented, verified information rather than opaque data collection.
Q10. What role do cutting-edge technologies like Trusted Execution Environments and zero-knowledge proofs play in backing secure AI-led decision-making?
Yes, we’ve mentioned TEEs and ZKPs several times in this interview, but that’s because they’re fundamental to secure AI-led decision-making. These technologies are the backbone that allow us to deliver on our promise of data sovereignty and AI advancement.
TEEs process data without exposing it while ZKPs verify computations without revealing the underlying data. Together, they create a trustless environment where AI agents can make decisions based on verified data that adheres to strict privacy standards. This technical foundation makes everything else possible.
Q11. In your opinion, what are the key markets to leverage CARV’s advanced technology in the upcoming years?
The four sectors we mentioned earlier – gaming, DeSci, AI companionship, and trading – are already growing in leaps and bounds. We think that’s where the momentum is right now but – as shown by DeepSeek – AI isn’t often predictable! More and better data means enhanced agent capabilities, so we also expect the unexpected.
Q12. Can you give an overview of CARV’s landmark achievements lined up after the D.A.T.A Framework’s release?
You bet – D.A.T.A Framework was just the beginning. We’re rolling out a series of phased enhancements that significantly expand its capabilities. The first phase introduces real-time on-chain activity alerts and autonomous actions such as airdrops and token transfers alongside comprehensive cross-chain insights.
In February, we’re integrating social media data via CARV ID for enhanced user profiling and enabling AI agents to collaborate seamlessly for modular data access. With over 15 million users and 8 million CARV IDs already on our platform, these enhancements will unlock new capabilities across our ecosystem. We’re just getting started.
