DAG Network details new leadership and partial launch of BlockDAG.

• BlockDAG announces new CEO and CTO.
• Blockchain debuts with partial centralization.

On December 29th, DAG Network held a public Q&A session to update the community on leadership changes, technical advancements, and the launch timeline for its BlockDAG blockchain. The meeting provided clarifications on the project's current stage and the next steps before its listing on exchanges.

During the AMA, the project confirmed the appointment of Nick Vandenberg as CEO and Jeremy Harkness as CTO. These changes are part of an executive restructuring focused on the final development phase and preparation for the ecosystem's launch. Representatives indicated that the new leadership will play a central role in the project's technical and strategic coordination.

Founder Gurhan Kiziloz also participated in the session and stated that he will be stepping away from day-to-day operations. According to him, his role will now focus on financial support and general oversight. Kiziloz stated that he invested approximately US$14 million in the initial stage and explained that building the technical team was essential for the continued development of the blockchain.

Harkness reported that the mainnet is already functional in a development environment, including ASIC-supported mining features. However, important aspects are still not completed. The staking system remains under construction, while third-party audits are pending before the network is fully released to the public.

The distribution of mining equipment was also discussed. Devices such as the X10 and X100 models have not yet reached all participants. Kiziloz stated that payments related to the purchase of the hardware should be completed within a week, allowing the delivery schedule to move forward.

Another point discussed was the initial operating model of the blockchain. According to Harkness, BlockDAG will be launched in a partially centralized format, with initial mining restricted to a closed network controlled by the project. The gradual opening of mining will occur as the hardware is distributed.

The project also announced the creation of a community oversight committee. Two individuals, identified as Reed and Muhammad, were invited to join the group. Despite the announcement, no details were provided regarding the committee's governance powers or decision-making role, with further AMA sessions planned to provide additional updates.