March 2026 Community Updates

March 2026 Community Updates

March has been a challenging month across global markets. Persistent geopolitical tensions, surging oil prices, softer-than-expected economic data, and interest rate decisions have weighed on sentiment, with the S&P 500 facing notable pressure and concerns around stagflation growing. In the midst of this macro uncertainty, the buzz around AI innovation continues to build, and it’s increasingly borderless.

The spotlight has shifted toward open-source agents and practical AI applications, making waves globally, including in China, in ways that feel different from previous tech cycles. Locally in Hong Kong, Google’s Gemini AI app officially debuted, quickly topping the Apple App Store charts as the city advances its own AI+ push, building on national initiatives to integrate AI across sectors.

The Agentic Hype

Q1 2026 marked the true explosion of agentic AI, shifting from chatbots to autonomous systems that can act. The breakout was OpenClaw, an open-source execution engine launched in late January that turned models like Claude or GPT into powerful self-hosted agents capable of running workflows, browsing, emailing, and executing code. It became the fastest-growing open-source project ever, igniting global frenzy around personal agent armies, Multi-Agent Systems (MAS), and AI-native communities.

The hype drove massive GPU demand and enterprise excitement, but also exposed classic bubble traits: rapid adoption outpaced security, governance, and proven ROI, leading to high-profile failures and growing skepticism.

Brewing local AI innovations

As a Hong Kong-based foundation with AI as one of our core focus areas, March marked a significant milestone for OAX. We officially kicked off our hands-on journey into the AI era by supporting one of Hong Kong’s largest student-led AI hackathons: HackTheEast 2026.

Our sponsorship and active involvement opened a new chapter for the Foundation, moving from vision to real action in nurturing the next generation of AI builders.

Translating learnings to actions

The support didn’t end at the hackathon. In mid-March, we hosted a dedicated networking session with the winners and standout teams. We dove deep into their projects, explored potential synergies with OAX, and discussed opportunities ranging from technical integration and AI-Web3 convergence to internships and future AI Lab collaborations. These are some of the brightest, most passionate young developers and thinkers from Hong Kong’s leading institutions, and their energy is truly inspiring. You can read our full key learnings and insights from the hackathon here.

GMAsia: Building a network to drive AI adoption

One of our key initiatives, GMAsia, also gained strong momentum this month. Focused on solving real enterprise AI adoption challenges, GMAsia is building an AI education platform for professionals, with a strong emphasis on agentic AI leadership. Rather than general AI usage, the goal is to equip leaders and teams with the deep understanding needed to harness AI strategically, grounded in design thinking and a clear grasp of AI’s strengths and limitations.

The hackathon’s EdTech AI theme aligned perfectly with this vision. By leveraging what students know best (learning itself), the event highlighted how education remains one of the most critical and accessible entry points for meaningful AI adoption. This directly feeds into GMAsia’s roadmap: creating a knowledge network and hub that connects institutions, talent, and practical learning pathways, especially vital for Asia’s AI journey.

Our participation in Hong Kong’s recent C-suite leadership forum with Michael Page (global leading talent firm) further validated this direction. Economic volatility, sector disruption, and the talent race demand not just reactive measures, but strategic foresight. The companies that thrive will be those that balance AI adoption with human insight, innovation with regulation, and ambition with pragmatism. The opportunity in strategic AI upskilling and enterprise readiness is clear and timely.

Community is echoing our strategy

We’re genuinely encouraged by how our community is evolving. You continue to embrace innovation with the same decentralized, forward-thinking spirit that has always defined OAX , now channeled into building an AI-powered tomorrow.

Our recent poll showed that 50% of you have already attended an online course. This reinforces what we believe:

The pace of change is accelerating, what you know today can quickly become outdated.
Continuous learning and adaptation are no longer optional for long-term success.
AI itself can be the most powerful tool to facilitate this lifelong learning.

This is exactly why we’re doubling down on AI education initiatives. By leveraging AI thoughtfully, we can drive adoption that is not just widespread, but strategic, responsible, and impactful, true to the blockchain ethos of empowerment and openness.

Thank you for your continued support, curiosity, and active participation as we enter this exciting new phase.

Disclaimer: The above is an opinion piece written by an authorized author, but in no way represents the official standpoint of OAX Foundation Limited, nor should it be meant to serve as investment advice.