Grey Hat Labs · R&D Stage
AI-Native Interoperability for Multi-Chain Finance
Truth has a protocol.
Grey Hat Labs is building an AI-driven interoperability and custody framework that lets digital assets
move securely across major blockchains — without bridges, wrapped tokens, or centralized custodians.
Purpose-built for custody platforms, institutional DeFi desks, and digital asset infrastructure teams.
Our Mission
To engineer with integrity.
To find elegance in the noise.
To build the protocols truth deserves.
The Problem
Every major blockchain speaks its own language. Moving assets or executing trades across chains still
means juggling specialized tools, wrapped tokens, and custodial exchanges.
These workarounds introduce risk and friction:
- Bridge exploits and key theft
- Operational and regulatory exposure
- Latency, slippage, and opaque execution
For most institutions, real cross-chain participation still feels like expert-only territory. Until
interoperability is safe, automated, and invisible, blockchain cannot reach mainstream financial adoption.
What We’re Building
Grey Hat Labs is building an AI-native interoperability framework that learns how to communicate
with any blockchain protocol on demand.
At its core, the platform unifies three capabilities:
- Dynamic protocol understanding — the system learns transaction formats, RPC methods, and
contract behaviors instead of relying on static integrations. - Distributed key custody — private keys are split, encrypted, and governed so no single
device, operator, or cloud ever has unilateral control. - AI-guided trade routing — cross-chain orders are optimized for liquidity, latency,
and fees across multiple venues.
Core Technologies
Dynamic Protocol Abstraction Layer
An adaptive AI engine that continuously interprets blockchain transaction formats, RPC methods,
and contract behaviors in real time. Instead of manually integrating each chain, DPAL learns how
to “speak” to new protocols and normalizes transactions into a chain-agnostic model.
- Learns new chains from on-chain data and documentation.
- Normalizes transactions into a universal representation.
- Reduces integration work from engineering tasks to learning tasks.
Distributed Key Custody Network
A distributed custody architecture that uses threshold cryptography and multi-party computation.
The full private key is never assembled in one place, and no single server, device, or operator
can move funds alone. Policy-based approvals and multi-operator workflows are enforced at the
cryptographic layer.
- Keys are split across hardened, independent nodes.
- No single device or operator can unilaterally move funds.
- Policy-based approvals and audit trails built in by design.
Network Intelligence & AI Trade Routing
An intelligent routing layer that looks across liquidity venues and networks to propose or execute
optimal paths for trades and transfers, evaluating latency, slippage, and fees while respecting
policy constraints and providing explainable routing decisions.
- Evaluates liquidity, latency, slippage, and fees across venues.
- Respects policy constraints such as whitelists and risk limits.
- Produces explainable routing decisions for compliance and risk teams.
Key Innovations
Universal Access Layer
A single, unified interface to interact with multiple blockchains. Users see one account and
portfolio, not a tangle of networks, and developers integrate one API to reach many chains while
the platform handles the right chain, address format, and transaction flow behind the scenes.
- One account and portfolio view across chains.
- Single API surface for multi-chain interactions.
- Routing to the right network is handled automatically.
Self-Learning Interoperability
A self-updating interoperability engine that stays current as the ecosystem evolves. The system
learns new transaction types, standards, and contract patterns over time, reducing the integration
backlog and helping institutions stay ahead of new L1s, L2s, and token standards.
- Learns new token and contract standards as they appear.
- Reduces manual integration and upgrade work.
- Keeps interoperability aligned with a fast-moving ecosystem.
Institutional-Grade Security
Security is designed at the infrastructure layer, not bolted on top. Keys are split and stored
across hardened, independent nodes, transactions require collaborative authorization with full
audit trails, and the architecture aligns with zero-trust and modern compliance principles.
- Keys never exist in one place in full.
- Collaborative authorization and audit trails are built in.
- Architecture is compatible with zero-trust and regulatory requirements.
R&D Roadmap
Grey Hat Labs is currently focused on research and prototyping for the core interoperability engine.
Our roadmap is structured in three phases:
Interoperability Core & Schema Intelligence
- Adaptive interpretation of transaction formats and RPC methods
- Normalized, chain-agnostic transaction models
Distributed Custody & Policy Controls
- Threshold key management and multi-party authorization
- Policy-driven approvals and risk controls for institutional workflows
Network Intelligence & AI Trade Routing
- Cross-chain order routing and execution optimization
- Real-time analytics and reporting for institutional flows
Our near-term goal is to deliver a pilot-ready interoperability engine for custody platforms,
institutional DeFi desks, and digital asset infrastructure providers.
Why It Matters
Blockchain shouldn’t feel like command-line infrastructure. It should feel like finance: clean, fast,
and trustable.
- For users: One place to hold, monitor, and move assets across chains with
institution-grade security and clear, human-readable workflows. - For developers: A single, well-documented API for multi-chain interactions,
without owning every integration and upgrade yourself. - For institutions: Secure, auditable, policy-driven access to digital assets
across multiple blockchains, aligned with regulatory expectations.
This is the foundation for a secure, intelligent, and interoperable digital asset economy.
Leadership
Rob Smith
CEO & Principal Investigator
Software engineer and founder focused on AI systems, distributed infrastructure, and secure blockchain
architecture. Leads product vision, technical design, and the research roadmap for Grey Hat Labs.
Brian Sturhan
Director of Platform Support
Brings over two decades of experience in enterprise infrastructure, DevOps, and high-availability
systems. Responsible for deployment strategy, reliability engineering, and operational excellence.
Collaborate With Us
Grey Hat Labs is building the next generation of secure, intelligent infrastructure at the intersection of
blockchain systems, AI research, and compliance technology.
We’re actively exploring partnerships with teams, researchers, and institutions who share our vision for
adaptive learning, transparency, and cross-domain interoperability.
Whether you’re advancing decentralized finance, AI-driven analytics, or regulatory innovation,
we invite you to reach out to discuss collaboration opportunities and joint pilot programs.
Contact Us to Discuss Partnerships
We review partnership inquiries on a rolling basis. Formal programs will be announced as they launch.
Work With Us
We’re building AI-native interoperability and custody infrastructure for the next generation of
digital finance.
We’d especially like to hear from:
- Investors & grant programs interested in deep technical infrastructure, AI, and
digital asset security. - Custody and infrastructure teams exploring multi-chain capabilities, pilots, or
licensing opportunities. - Researchers & technical collaborators in AI, cryptography, and distributed systems.
Grey Hat Labs White Paper
Abstract:
Grey Hat Labs is pioneering an AI-driven interoperability and custody framework — a universal intelligence
layer that allows digital assets and messages to move securely and autonomously across multiple
blockchains.
This public summary introduces our mission, system architecture, and R&D roadmap. It describes how
adaptive schema learning, reinforcement-based orchestration, and distributed key custody can be combined
to address fragmentation, security, and operational risk in today’s digital asset infrastructure.
The full technical version is available to qualified partners, investors, and researchers upon request.