The Harmony blockchain team has proposed shutting down its network entirely, citing mounting pressure from artificial intelligence-related threats and a strategic pivot toward the AI-video industry. Under the plan, the project would migrate its ONE token to Ethereum and wind down operations, with users urged to exit their smart contract positions before a September 10 deadline.
A Blockchain Bows Out
Harmony, once known for its scalable proof-of-stake network and cross-chain ambitions, is now recommending that its community abandon the chain it has built over the years. The team framed the decision around the growing risks that advanced AI poses to blockchain security and long-term viability, arguing that the landscape has shifted dramatically since the project's launch.
Rather than continuing to maintain the standalone network, the proposal calls for consolidating the ONE token on Ethereum. That move would effectively end Harmony's existence as an independent layer-1 chain, folding its remaining value into the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
A project that spent years building its own chain is now telling users the safest path forward is to walk away.
The Pivot to AI Video
Beyond the shutdown itself, the Harmony team signaled its intention to redirect resources into the AI-video business, a rapidly expanding sector as generative tools mature. The change of direction reflects a broader trend of crypto teams repositioning themselves around artificial intelligence, where investor interest and technical momentum have surged.
The transition comes with a hard deadline for the community. Users holding assets in Harmony smart contracts are being advised to move quickly to protect their funds before support winds down.
- Migrate ONE holdings to Ethereum ahead of the shutdown
- Exit all Harmony smart contract positions before September 10
- Watch for further guidance from the team on the migration process
For longtime supporters, the announcement marks an abrupt end to a project that once positioned itself as a competitor in the crowded layer-1 arena. Whether the AI-video pivot delivers on its promise remains to be seen, but the immediate concern for users is ensuring their holdings are safely relocated before the network goes dark.