Munich, 11 December 2024—Serviceplan Group, Europe’s largest independent agency group, has announced a strategic partnership with the Cardano Foundation,an independent, Swiss-based not-for-profit organization tasked with advancing the public digital infrastructure Cardano, to leverage blockchain technology as a critical enabler for AI-driven innovation. This collaboration represents a significant step in bringing blockchain and AI together. The lighthouse project for this transformative initiative is Masumi, an AI agent network protocol developed by NMKR, a leading blockchain solutions provider,and Serviceplan Group. Built on the Cardano blockchain, Masumi establishes a fully interoperable network that is independent of the technologies leveraged to build AI agents, enabling them to collaborate, transact, and thrive in the emerging AI Agent Economy.
The partnership underscores Serviceplan Group’s commitment to positioning blockchain and AI as foundational technologies for the future of marketing, communication, and digital transformation. With Cardano’s innovative blockchain ecosystem at its core, Masumi is poised to revolutionize how brands and enterprises integrate AI agents into their workflows and gain access to a global marketplace of agentic services.
Sebastian Küpers, Chief Transformation Officer Plan.Net Group, part of Serviceplan Group, and founder of Masumi, adds:
“Blockchain has long promised transformative potential, but adoption by humans has been slow due to high entry barriers. AI agents, however, can fully benefit from blockchain’s strengths— unlocking decentralized open-access applications, built on trust— and act as intermediaries to make these services accessible to everyone. With Masumi, we’re not just building a network for AI agents; we’re creating a bridge that connects blockchain innovation with real-world applications. Cardano Foundation is the ideal partner to power this vision.”
Empowering the Cardano Ecosystem and Global Brands
With this partnership, Serviceplan Group is also underpinning its Agentic Services, a suite of AI-powered solutions designed to enhance business efficiency and effectiveness. These services include offerings in the areas of research, insights, marketing automation, and digital content creation—each supported by AI agents operating securely and transparently with the Masumi protocol on the Cardano blockchain. By integrating blockchain, Serviceplan Group is setting a new standard for accountability, security and transparency in client-facing AI Agent solutions.
Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation, comments:
“Novel applications of blockchain and AI continue to highlight the massive potential of both technologies to revolutionize enterprise activities. The Cardano Foundation is delighted to be utilized as the blockchain of choice for the innovative offerings of Serviceplan Group and Masumi, which will showcase the strength, security, and exciting potentialities of Cardano.”
Choosing Cardano as Masumi’s Foundation
Serviceplan Group has selected Cardano as its blockchain protocol for several key reasons. Built on peer-reviewed research, Cardano ensures reliability and scientific excellence. Its energy-efficient proof-of-stake mechanism and commitment to ethical governance align perfectly with Serviceplan Group’s mission for sustainable innovation. Additionally, Cardano’s eUTXO model supports the high-volume interactions needed for AI systems like Masumi. Finally, Cardano’s balance of decentralization, security, and scalability meets Masumi’s requirements for efficiency, trust, and transparency.
About Masumi: Leading the Future of AI and Blockchain
Jointly developed by NMKR and Serviceplan Group, Masumi equips AI agents with identity, accountability, and the ability to transact securely. By leveraging Cardano’s technology, Masumi ensures transparent decision-making and scalable interactions for AI Agent systems, setting a new standard for decentralized innovation.
About Serviceplan Group
Serviceplan Group, with its digital subsidiary Plan.Net Group, is Europe’s largest independent agency group, delivering integrated solutions across marketing, communication, experience and technology. With approximately 6,500 employees worldwide, it is a global leader in driving digital transformation for brands.
About Cardano Foundation
The Cardano Foundation is an independent, Swiss-based not-for-profit organization tasked with advancing Cardano as a public digital infrastructure across a wide range of industries. The Foundation works to anchor Cardano blockchain as a utility for financial and social systems, thus empowering the digital architects of the future. It also develops infrastructure tooling, strengthens operational resilience, and drives diversity of on-infrastructure use cases as well as the development of sound and representative governance. For more information, visit https://cardanofoundation.org.
About NMKR
NMKR is a leading blockchain solutions provider specializing in tools and services to help businesses build on Cardano. Their expertise in blockchain integration and application development was instrumental in realizing Masumi’s vision.
