Hi Grigore, thanks very much for taking the time to chat today! Let’s start with a quick intro, for readers who may not be familiar with your work.
“Of course! Thanks for having me. I’m currently a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois and Founder & CEO of Pi Squared. I really enjoy this kind of dual-career style as these parallel tracks are extremely synergetic and uniquely complement each other. My time in academia has been instrumental in my work with Pi Squared, which we can get into in a bit more detail if you like.”
Absolutely. Could you talk to us about how Pi Squared aims to solve fragmentation and trust limitations in blockchain infrastructure?
“Following our $12.5 million seed funding round last year, we have been laser focused on solving the fragmentation and trust limitations of today’s blockchain infrastructure by enabling fast, verifiable, cross-chain computation and settlement, so apps, agents, and protocols can interact across ecosystems without relying on bridges, centralized parties, or unprovable logic. Additionally, we have a novel consensus protocol that allows for optimal, parallel payments and settlement, which scales horizontally — if we need more TPS, we add more validators. I would say we are the missing trust layer for a modular, interoperable, and enterprise-ready Web3.”
You invented the K Framework in 2003. What is K, what inspired you to develop it, and how does it relate to current blockchain challenges?
“Sure. The K framework is what I would call an open-source “Rosetta Stone” for programming language semantics. It’s essentially mathematical logic and language that enables developers to formally define all programming languages like C, Solidity, and JavaScript. K has massive implications for smart contract programming language development, and formal verification efforts in the blockchain space. It also plays a key role in addressing the fragmentation and trust issues that are all too prevalent today. This is at the core of our mission at Pi Squared.”
Can you tell readers a bit about what you’re working on at Pi Squared?
“Sure, we are building the most advanced verifiable settlement layer—uniting all languages, apps, and ecosystems with lightning-fast proofs and consensus. At a macro level, our Verifiable Settlement Layer (VSL) is redefining how blockchain systems interact. Rather than forcing every chain to speak the same language or adopt the same standards, the VSL acts as a universal verification hub, a layer where smart contracts, data, and claims from any ecosystem can be validated and made accessible everywhere else. Using our Proof of Proof system, VSL doesn’t just trust external data, it mathematically proves its correctness. Whether it’s a transaction from Ethereum, a smart contract execution on Solana, or an AI model inference on a Layer 3, VSL lets developers verify once and use it anywhere.”
How is Pi Squared addressing the steep Web3 learning curve for developers?
“Great question. We are bringing all programming languages to Web3, allowing developers to use their preferred language and then translate that code into a universal, verifiable format. This is eliminating major barriers that keep the best Web2 developers from segwaying into the Web3 space.”
I’d like to pivot now slightly to ask you a few quick-fire questions on current industry trends. What is your take on the proliferation of L2 solutions right now?
“I’ll be frank with you. I don’t think we need L2s at all, at least not how they are built today. While they offer scalability, they often introduce unnecessary complexity and potential security vulnerabilities. By focusing on verifiable computation, we can achieve scalability without the need for multiple layers, simplifying the overall architecture and enhancing trust. To put it bluntly, if L1s are implemented properly using VSL, separating consensus from execution from verifiability, then they would be so fast that L2s would not be needed anymore.”
In your view, how do AI agents fit into the future of blockchain technology?
“AI agents are certainly having their moment in the sun right now, and understandably so. They can automate and optimize various blockchain operations, from transaction validation to smart contract execution. However, for them to function effectively, we need a foundation of verifiable and interoperable infrastructure to ensure their actions are trustworthy and consistent across different platforms. I believe that blockchains, as they are today, are hopeless in terms of scalability to sustain the growing AI agent economy. Users and agents will soon have millions of interactions per second, which cannot be practically done on existing blockchain infrastructure. Much faster, uncapped horizontally scalable payment systems and settlement layers are desperately needed. And this is precisely what Pi Squared offers.”
Do you think it’s possible to achieve interoperability without relying on bridges?
“Yes, by utilizing verifiable proofs of claims and universal settlement layers, we can enable different blockchains and applications to understand, verify and trust each other’s computations without the need for traditional bridges, which are often points of failure.”
What is your vision for the future of Web3?
“Well, given the well-publicized scalability constraints of blockchain, I think it’s worth reconsidering whether Web3 truly requires blockchains to thrive long term. I believe the future lies in ultra-fast payment systems and verifiable settlement mechanisms, and blockchain is merely one of several ways to deliver that. I’m not suggesting the end of blockchain is near, but I think there is a transformation on the horizon. Rather than serving as the central ledger for all things, blockchain’s future utility may lie in functioning as a universal verifier, a decentralized notary within a more flexible, modular tech stack. Just as the internet matured beyond its original walled gardens, Web3 is beginning to outgrow the rigidity of total ordering and monolithic chain design. The next generation of infrastructure, and the opportunities that come with it, will belong to those who recognize this inflection point.”
What future plans are in store for Pi Squared?
“We have lofty goals but I believe the amazing Pi Squared team is more than capable of setting the gold standard as the most advanced ultra-fast payment system and verifiable settlement layer for AI and crypto. We will be announcing some major partnerships in the coming months while ticking off some important milestones on our roadmap. Stay tuned.”
