Tom Ngo is the Chief Executive Officer of Metis, an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution. He is known for leading the project's strategic initiatives, including its focus on decentralization, ecosystem development, and the integration of blockchain with artificial intelligence. ^{[1] [2]}

Career

Tom Ngo began his entrepreneurial activities at the age of 16. Prior to his leadership role at Metis, he held various consultative positions within the blockchain industry, where he gained extensive hands-on experience. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Metis in December 2022. ^{[1] [2]}

In his capacity as CEO, Ngo is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the Metis Layer 2 network. His duties include leading key Web3 initiatives, identifying market opportunities, overseeing commercial operations, and developing the project's teams. His leadership style has been described as "people-centric," with a focus on empowering teams to develop practical and transformative applications using blockchain technology. ^{[3] [4] [14]}

Leadership at Metis

Under Ngo's leadership, Metis has pursued a strategy centered on decentralization, security, and ecosystem sustainability. He has overseen significant technical upgrades, strategic partnerships, and a pivot in the project's long-term vision.

Strategic Direction and Vision

Ngo has publicly stated that Metis's economic model is designed to prioritize the decentralization, stability, and sustainability of its infrastructure, with a core mission of providing scalable, low-cost, and secure solutions for the decentralized economy. ^[5]

In June 2025, Ngo announced a major strategic evolution for Metis, positioning it as an "AI-native infrastructure." He identified the convergence of blockchain and artificial intelligence as a significant trend for the industry. In his view, blockchain's primary role in this convergence is to solve the "data alignment problem" by creating a trustless and transparent record of data provenance and purpose for training AI models. This vision includes using tokenized incentives to reward contributors to AI models, aiming to create utility-driven ecosystems. ^[6]

Technical and Ecosystem Initiatives

During his tenure, Ngo has announced and overseen several key technical and ecosystem-focused initiatives:

• Decentralized Sequencer: Metis launched the first phase of its decentralized sequencer pool, making it the first Ethereum Layer 2 to do so. The initiative aims to mitigate risks associated with centralized sequencers, such as censorship and liveness failures, while creating a revenue-sharing model for token holders who stake METIS. ^{[7] [3]}
• Hybrid Rollups: Ngo announced plans to implement a Hybrid Rollup architecture, which combines the fast transaction confirmations of Optimistic Rollups with the enhanced security and fast finality of Zero-Knowledge (ZK) Rollups. The project partnered with ZKM to leverage its zkVM for implementing the ZK-proofs. ^[7]
• AI-Focused Projects: In line with the pivot to AI, Ngo unveiled two new projects in June 2025. Hyperion was introduced as a high-speed, instant L2 solution designed to support the data-intensive AI sector. LAAS AI (Ledger-as-a-Service AI) was announced as an incubated project to address data integrity by using the blockchain to track the lifecycle of data used for training AI models. ^[6]
• Ecosystem Development Fund (MetisEDF): To foster growth, Metis established a 4.6 million METIS token fund intended to support the ecosystem over a ten-year period. In a March 2024 interview, Ngo confirmed that 250,000 METIS (valued at over $25 million at the time) was allocated for grants in 2024. The fund has supported projects across DeFi, gaming, and SocialFi, including DeFi Kingdom, Wagmi, and Hercules Exchange. ^{[3] [7]}
• Strategic Partnerships: Ngo has emphasized partnerships to enhance security and interoperability. Metis integrated Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), which Ngo described as a top-tier security protocol, to address bridge-related risks. The project also began exploring a partnership with EigenLayer for dual staking to further enhance network security. ^{[3] [5]}

Views and Perspectives

Through various interviews and public appearances, Tom Ngo has shared his perspectives on the blockchain industry, Layer 2 technology, and the path to mass adoption.

On Layer 2 Technology and Adoption

Ngo has identified high transaction costs as a primary barrier to mainstream user adoption, stating that users of Web3 applications have similar expectations for low costs as they do for traditional internet services. He viewed the Ethereum Dencun upgrade in March 2024 as a "big step for mass adoption" because it enabled more predictable and lower transaction costs, benefiting both crypto-native companies and traditional finance institutions. ^[8]

Following the Dencun upgrade, Ngo argued that the primary bottleneck for Layer 2s shifted from technical scaling to user onboarding. He believes that mass adoption is driven by effective incentive alignment and that L2s must develop strategies to attract and retain users. He predicts that L2s will continue to grow as they become more secure and trusted, but that long-term survival will depend on having a sustainable economic design and a clear focus on a specific market sector. ^{[7] [3]}

On Industry Challenges and Philosophy

Ngo has highlighted several key risks within the L2 ecosystem, particularly the reliance on a single, centralized sequencer, which he notes can lead to censorship and liveness failures. He also identifies bridge security as a major vulnerability. To achieve mainstream adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi), he believes the industry must address challenges related to user experience (UX) and interoperability. ^{[3] [8]}

He advocates for a philosophy of continuous development, regardless of market conditions, and views bear markets as opportunities for growth and team refinement. In an April 2024 interview, he stated, "In this space, there is no pause or stop. The music has to go on. We have to keep building." Ngo also promotes a "Web3 ethos" where Layer 2 networks share the benefits of growth with their communities and contributors, arguing that users will migrate to platforms that reward them for their participation. ^{[3] [7]}

On Regulation

Regarding regulation, Ngo has expressed an optimistic view, advocating for a "collaborative effort" between the blockchain industry and regulatory bodies. He believes that regulatory acceptance and approval from traditional finance and governing bodies will help "solidify legitimacy of the space" and drive further adoption. ^[3]

Public Appearances

Tom Ngo is a frequent speaker at blockchain industry conferences. His notable public appearances include:

• DeInsight 2024: Delivered a keynote speech titled "What is the Next Step for L2 Innovation?" at the summit in Bangkok on November 11, 2024. ^[5]
• GM VIETNAM 2025: Scheduled as a panelist for the discussion "Do we really need that many L2s?" in Hanoi on August 1-2, 2025. ^[9]
• Korea Blockchain Week 2025: Scheduled to speak on a panel titled "Why L2s Are Winning Again" on September 23, 2025. ^[4]
• Southeast Asia Blockchain Week 2025: Listed as a speaker for the event. ^[1]

Interviews

Tom Ngo on Metis and AI at ETHDenver 2025 #01

On May 14, 2025, Tom Ngo, CEO of Metis, participated in an interview on the YouTube channel Genzio during the GM Podcast at ETHDenver. In the discussion, he outlined Metis’ initiatives to support developers working with artificial intelligence through infrastructure, accelerator programs, and grants. From his perspective, the project is structured as an Ethereum Layer 2 while also preparing an AI-focused chain designed to address issues related to data verification and authenticity.

Ngo described ETHDenver as an event shaped by a community-oriented atmosphere, which he contrasted with other industry gatherings that he characterized as more commercially structured. He noted that Metis’ activities extend beyond the development of technical infrastructure, including guidance on business approaches and user onboarding.

In his comments on decentralized finance (DeFi), Ngo observed that the sector remains complex, with many users overlooking the mechanisms of value extraction and hidden costs. He indicated that artificial intelligence could, in his view, contribute to simplifying user interactions in DeFi, though such applications are still at an early stage.

Ngo also outlined Metis’ involvement in multiple areas, such as Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions, cross-chain tools, and frameworks for AI. He pointed to initiatives like Laza AI as examples of how the project seeks to connect blockchain development with artificial intelligence while responding to concerns about misinformation and unreliable data sources. ^[15]

Tom Ngo on Blockchain Infrastructure for AI #02

In an interview released on July 31, 2025, on the YouTube channel House of ZK, Tom Ngo described Metis’s transition from a focus on Ethereum scalability to the development of blockchain infrastructure intended for artificial intelligence (AI). He stated that current efforts include a new execution layer, an agent framework, and a decentralized data model, all aimed at addressing issues of data quality and verification in AI systems.

Ngo indicated that data integrity is a prerequisite for dependable AI outcomes and presented Hyperion, an AI-oriented rollup, along with the incubation of LZ AI, as initiatives designed to improve provenance and transparency. In his view, blockchain can function as a verification mechanism, offering decentralized records that counter risks such as misinformation and reliance on centralized entities.

The interview also included an outline of the Metis dual-chain structure, consisting of the established Andromeda network and the planned Hyperion chain. According to Ngo, this structure is intended to provide environments suited both for existing decentralized applications and for workloads that require higher throughput. He further noted that the Metis Virtual Machine incorporates features such as parallel processing to accommodate computationally demanding tasks.

Ngo described a roadmap that emphasizes developer participation, with references to open-source software, community contributions, and accelerator initiatives. He added that the Hyperion testnet was scheduled for release, positioning it as the next step in Metis’s technical development. ^[16]