- Hedera co-founder Mance Harmon said the project is building invisible technology that will underpin the decentralized future of plumbing.
- He said Hashgraph solves all the challenges that blockchain solves “in a much more secure, efficient, and performant way.”
Hedera is building the technology that will power the future of Web3, but users don’t need to know anything about plumbing, says co-founder Mance Harmon. In an interview with CNBC, he described the project’s goal as “invisible ubiquity.”
Harmon was speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where, as we reported, cryptocurrencies were well represented. Internet Computer announced its first domestic subnet at the event, and Ripple showed off its institutional-grade XRPL infrastructure.
“Invisible Omnipresence” @ManceHarmon talks to @CNBC about what “success” looks like for Hedera.
“If you think about the Internet, it’s running on technology that no one has ever heard of…Hedera would be no different.”
Full article: https://t.co/AgHadubRA9 pic.twitter.com/O2SHtDA19x
— Hedera (@hedera) January 30, 2026
Harmon drew parallels between what his project is building and the plumbing of the Internet. Billions of people use the Internet every day, but few know about the technology that powers it. However, not knowing the power of the Internet does not prevent you from enjoying your Internet experience. He told CNBC:
“Hedera is no different. Hedera provides a suite of services for the Web3 economy, but it’s like plumbing. It’s going to be at the bottom of this new technology stack that will enable Web3 for everyone.”
Hedera: Like blockchain, but better
Unlike other networks, Hedera relies on hashgraphs. Hashgraph is another type of decentralized technology where data is stored in a directed acyclic graph (DAG), where nodes constantly share information about transactions and mathematically agreed upon in our detailed guide. Hashgraphs are faster because records are added in parallel, and the cost is much lower.
Harmon summed it up this way:
“Hashgraph solves the same category of problems as blockchain, but in a much more secure, efficient, and performant way.”
Another thing that sets Hedera apart is its node validators. Networks like Bitcoin allow any user to run a node. However, Hedera brought together over 30 of the world’s largest companies with global reputations to operate the node, and the group’s membership rotated among its members. This includes Google, Aberdeen, IBM, Dell, LG, Hitachi, Dentons, and Ubisoft.
Image courtesy of CNBC.
This council ensures that the network is not dependent on one party. This approach also ensures impenetrability, as it requires attackers to penetrate the security guardrails of the world’s most important companies.
Hedera’s approach has attracted millions of users in both retail and enterprise settings, Harmon said. One area where significant progress has been made is tokenization. “You can instantly skip settlement and clearing and jump straight to atomic swaps. A single trade is completed in a matter of seconds,” he said.
Like most other networks, Hedera is targeting the AI sector, Harmon added. One of the ways that Harmon sees the most impact is agent payments, where AI agents can trade autonomously with each other. Payments flowing between these agencies would “dwarf what is seen today in the existing economy.”
He said:
“Normal payment systems don’t work well when you’re transferring the value of a fraction of a U.S. penny. With the efficiencies and technology we have, we can efficiently transfer the value of a fraction of a cent.”
HBAR trading price $0.0959,lose 3% As of early today, the market capitalization was $4.12 billion. The company’s trading volume settled at $159 million, affected by a cyclical decline over the weekend. twenty one% Drop it.
