DEP Protocol, the 'Human Proof' Network to Combat Fraud in the Generative AI Era, Launches Mainnet! Pacific Meta and Ekotek Join as Genesis Validators

Digital Entertainment Asset Inc. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Naoto Yoshida; President & CEO: Kozo Yamada; hereinafter "DEA") announces the launch of the mainnet for DEP Protocol, a Layer 1 blockchain designed to verify and prove human behavior, effective July 14, 2026.

In conjunction, DEA announces that Pacific Meta Inc. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shota Iwasaki; hereinafter "Pacific Meta") and Ekotek (headquartered in Hanoi, Vietnam; CEO: Dylan Dong Do; hereinafter "Ekotek") have joined as Genesis Validators—the initial 24 selected entities responsible for supporting the network from its earliest stages.

Background: Proving 'Being Human' in the Age of AI

With the rapid proliferation of generative AI and AI agents, determining whether online data and traffic originate from humans has become a societal challenge. Is the data used to train AI truly created by humans? Are ad impressions viewed by real people or bots? This 'verification of humanity' has now become essential infrastructure for both the AI and advertising industries.

On July 10, 2026, Japan’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy Headquarters approved the draft of the second phase of the 'AI Basic Plan,' promoting 'Japan AX'—a society driven by trustworthy AI—and advancing public-private investment in 'Vertical AI' and 'Physical AI.' At the foundation of trustworthy AI lies the ability to verify that data and actions originate from humans. DEP Protocol launches its mainnet in the same week as this strategic decision, positioning itself as infrastructure perfectly aligned with this national vision.

What is DEP Protocol?

DEP Protocol is a Layer 1 blockchain built on Avalanche, dedicated to verifying human activity. It functions as infrastructure that validates and certifies human actions, generating 'Human Proof Scores' for use in AI, advertising, and robotics.

Designed with privacy-by-design principles, it proves human involvement without storing any PII (personally identifiable information).

Verification results are not disposable judgments but portable cryptographic proofs that third parties can verify.

As it does not rely on cookies, it remains effective in advertising measurement environments even after the deprecation of third-party cookies.

This enables applications such as certifying the 'human origin' of AI training data and verifying the humanity of ad impressions—laying a foundational infrastructure for the healthy development of the AI and advertising industries.

DEP Protocol Landing Page: https://dep-protocol.com/

Mainnet Launch and Future Roadmap

On July 14, 2026, the blockchain infrastructure of DEP Protocol (mainnet) began technical operations. Going forward, verification modules will be implemented and connected in stages, with the commercial phase—featuring reward distribution based on real network demand—planned to commence by the end of November 2026.

Pacific Meta and Ekotek Join as Genesis Validators

Genesis Validators are the initial 24 selected entities responsible for network validation from the earliest stages of DEP Protocol. Today, Pacific Meta—known for its extensive validator operations in the Web3 space—and Ekotek—renowned for its blockchain development expertise—join as the first participating companies.

Pacific Meta is a Web3 accelerator with the mission of 'creating blockchain standards from Japan.' It has a proven track record of supporting core operations for major domestic and international networks, including participation in the Solana Foundation Delegation Program and validator roles in Japan Open Chain and multi-chain networks.

Ekotek is an IT technology company headquartered in Hanoi, Vietnam, with over 200 specialists. It excels in protocol-level engineering for Layer 1 and Layer 2 blockchains and smart contract development, having delivered over 250 projects across 10 markets. The company is certified under ISO 9001 and ISO 27001.

◼️ Executive Comments

Shota Iwasaki, CEO, Pacific Meta Inc.

"Pacific Meta has supported infrastructure operations as a validator across major domestic and international networks. We believe DEP Protocol addresses a critical need in an era where 'proof of humanity' is becoming essential social infrastructure due to the rapid spread of AI. We are honored to participate from the earliest stages as a Genesis Validator and will contribute our accumulated expertise to ensure the reliable operation of DEP Protocol’s network. And above all, I’d be delighted to support Kozo-san, whom I personally admire."

Dylan Dong Do, CEO, Ekotek

"At Ekotek, we have spent years building protocol-level infrastructure across Layer 1 and Layer 2 ecosystems, delivering over 250 projects across 10 markets. The DEP Protocol addresses a challenge that will only grow more urgent as AI adoption accelerates — verifying that data and activity are genuinely human. We are proud to join as one of the first Genesis Validators and look forward to contributing our engineering expertise to help build a trustworthy foundation for this network."

Ekotekはこれまで、Layer 1およびLayer 2のプロトコルレベルのインフラ構築に取り組み、10の市場で250以上のプロジェクトを手がけてまいりました。DEPプロトコルは、AIの普及が加速するほどより切実になっていく課題――データや行動が本当に人間由来であることをどう証明するか――に向き合うものです。最初のジェネシスバリデータの一社として参画できることを誇りに思うとともに、当社のエンジニアリングの知見を活かし、このネットワークの信頼できる基盤づくりに貢献してまいります。

Kozo Yamada, President & CEO, Digital Entertainment Asset Inc.

"DEP Protocol was conceived from the idea that in an age where AI generates all information and actions on behalf of humans, 'being human' itself becomes an asset that requires proof."