Trent McConaghy

Trent McConaghy is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and advocate for decentralised technologies, best known for his contributions to blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI).  He is the founder of Ocean Protocol, a platform that facilitates the decentralised exchange of data. Ocean Protocol aims to democratise data and make it accessible for everyone. 

Prior to this, McConaghy co-founded several successful companies, including BigchainDB, a blockchain database, and ascribe, a platform for managing ownership and provenance of digital art via blockchain technology.

His entrepreneurial journey began in the late 1990s with ADA, his first startup, which explored the intersection of human creativity and AI. ADA was acquired by Synopsys. After this, he co-founded Solido, a company that used AI to support Moore's Law in chip design. Solido was eventually acquired by Siemens. These ventures helped establish McConaghy as a leading figure in both AI and blockchain technologies.

McConaghy earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Saskatchewan. He later earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering from KU Leuven in Belgium, where he focused on machine creativity and AI. His doctoral work was highly recognised, winning the 2009 EDAA Outstanding Dissertation Award. During his early career, McConaghy worked on AI research for the Canadian Department of National Defence, which marked the beginning of his interest in AI and machine learning.
 

In 2013, McConaghy launched ascribe, a platform to enable artists to assert ownership of their digital works through blockchain. This work evolved into BigchainDB, a scalable blockchain database for managing digital assets. McConaghy's focus shifted to Ocean Protocol in 2017, which aims to unlock the value of data by allowing it to be traded securely and transparently through blockchain.
 

Trent McConaghy has published several influential works, including books such as Variation-Aware Design of Custom Integrated Circuits: A Hands-on Field Guide (2012) and Variation-Aware Analog Structural Synthesis: A Computational Intelligence Approach (2009). He has authored key papers like Trustworthy Genetic Programming-Based Synthesis of Analog Circuit Topologies Using Hierarchical Domain-Specific Building Blocks (2011).


Additionally, McConaghy holds numerous patents, including Method and System for Verification of Electrical Circuit Designs at Process, Voltage, and Temperature Corners (Patent #8,612,908) and On-the-Fly Improvement of Certainty of Statistical Estimates in Statistical Design (Patent #8,589,138).
 

He has also been a speaker at prestigious institutions such as NASA, MIT, and Columbia University, sharing his expertise in AI, blockchain, and decentralisation. He is a strong advocate for the ethical and transparent use of AI and believes that decentralisation is key to ensuring that data and technology are used for the benefit of humanity.

Trent McConaghy was born in Canada and has made significant contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and decentralisation. He has built a career spanning various industries, from national defence research to pioneering blockchain technology. McConaghy’s work has impacted many sectors, including chip design, digital art, and data management, and continues to shape the future of technology.

McConaghy’s journey into technology began early. He pursued a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Saskatchewan, graduating in the late 1990s. During his undergraduate years, he worked on machine learning research for the Canadian Department of National Defence, which ignited his interest in AI and its applications. 

After completing his Bachelor’s, McConaghy furthered his education by earning a PhD in Electrical Engineering from KU Leuven in Belgium from 2004 to 2008. His doctoral research focused on reconciling machine creativity with existing engineering knowledge, for which he won the EDAA Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2009.

In 1998, while still a student, McConaghy co-founded his first startup, ADA, which explored the intersection of human creativity and AI-driven machine creativity. ADA’s work in this area gained recognition, and the company was acquired by Synopsys in 2004. During this time, McConaghy continued his academic pursuits, furthering his understanding of how AI could augment human creativity. 

After ADA, McConaghy founded his second company, Solido, in 2004. Solido used AI to address challenges in chip design, particularly the variations that threatened the continuation of Moore’s Law. The company’s software became crucial in modern chip designs, helping to reduce manufacturing variations. 

By 2010, Solido was profitable, and in 2017, it was acquired by Siemens. This acquisition marked another milestone in McConaghy’s career, solidifying his expertise in AI and its practical applications in industries like semiconductor design.
 

In 2013, McConaghy ventured into blockchain technology with the launch of Ascribe, a platform to enable artists to assert ownership of digital works through blockchain. His work on Ascribe evolved into the creation of BigchainDB, a scalable blockchain database for managing digital assets. 

McConaghy’s focus shifted to Ocean Protocol in 2017, which aims to unlock the value of data by allowing it to be traded securely and transparently through blockchain. Ocean Protocol is designed to democratize access to data, allowing anyone to use it for training AI models and driving innovation. McConaghy’s vision for Ocean Protocol is that it will become as ubiquitous as the internet itself, but with decentralised principles.
 

McConaghy has published numerous papers, books, and patents related to AI, blockchain, and decentralisation. His books include Variation-Aware Design of Custom Integrated Circuits: A Hands-on Field Guide (2012) and Variation-Aware Analog Structural Synthesis: A Computational Intelligence Approach (2009). His academic papers, such as BigchainDB: A Scalable Blockchain Database (2016) and Trustworthy Genetic Programming-Based Synthesis of Analog Circuit Topologies Using Hierarchical Domain-Specific Building Blocks (2011), have contributed to advancing the fields of AI and blockchain. Additionally, McConaghy holds multiple patents in AI, blockchain, and circuit design, including Method and System for Verification of Electrical Circuit Designs at Process, Voltage, and Temperature Corners (Patent #8,612,908).
 

As of 2023, McConaghy continues to lead Ocean Protocol and explore the possibilities of blockchain and AI. His current focus is on Ocean Predictoor, a tool designed to provide decentralised prediction feeds via AI and Web3 technologies. With Ocean Predictoor, McConaghy aims to unlock more powerful AI by incorporating predictions, which he believes are some of the most valuable forms of data. His long-term goal remains to ensure humanity has a meaningful role in a world increasingly driven by autonomous technologies. 

McConaghy has been a speaker at prestigious institutions such as NASA, MIT, and Columbia University, sharing his expertise and vision for the future of technology. He is also involved in the development of Token Engineering, which applies engineering principles to blockchain-based systems.
 

As of 2025, McConaghy is focused on expanding the reach of Ocean Protocol and further developing its ecosystem. His work on decentralised AI prediction markets through Ocean Predictoor is aimed at unlocking new capabilities for AI systems, providing the necessary infrastructure for AI models to operate at scale while ensuring accountability and transparency. His ongoing work continues to make significant strides in decentralising data management and AI, with McConaghy’s efforts helping to shape the future of both blockchain and AI.

Trent McConaghy’s vision is to create a world where decentralisation empowers individuals and organisations. He believes that blockchain and AI, when combined, can unlock vast potential for data management and innovation. Through Ocean Protocol, he aims to democratise access to data, allowing it to be shared securely and transparently. His focus is on making AI more powerful and accessible, enabling it to benefit society as a whole. McConaghy’s long-term goal is to ensure humanity remains at the forefront of technological advancements, contributing meaningfully to a world driven by autonomous systems.

Trent McConaghy's PhD dissertation won the EDAA Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2009, recognising his work in reconciling machine creativity with engineering knowledge. McConaghy’s achievements in the field of chip design earned him the honour of having Solido, his second startup, acquired by Siemens in 2017. His work on Ocean Protocol and BigchainDB has been widely recognised for its innovation in decentralised data and blockchain technology. He has been invited to speak at leading institutions such as NASA, MIT, and Columbia University.