Anseta and Four Pillars Join DEP Protocol as Genesis Validators

Two professional operators commit their own infrastructure to biometric-free human verification, ahead of Genesis Activation at the end of November

TOKYO, November 11, 2026. Digital Entertainment Asset (DEA), a Tokyo-based Web3 company with a branch in Singapore, today announced that Anseta, the premier enterprise-grade onchain and agentic infrastructure provider, and Four Pillars, Asia's leading crypto research & solution firm, have joined DEP Protocol as Genesis Validators. Both will run their own validator nodes on their own infrastructure.

Proving humanity, without biometrics or personal data
As AI agents and bots become indistinguishable from people online, knowing whether an action comes from a real human is turning into core internet infrastructure: for advertising, payments, identity, and the data used to train AI. In Japan, the trend magazine Nikkei Trendy has just named "proof of personhood" its number one hit prediction for 2027.
Most approaches to proof of personhood rely on biometrics or dedicated hardware, such as iris scanners. DEP Protocol takes a different path.
DEP Protocol is a Layer 1 human verification infrastructure built on Avalanche technology. Its SDK scores how human an interaction is, using only ordinary smartphone use, and makes that score verifiable on-chain. No biometrics are collected, no special device is needed, and raw interaction data never leaves the user's device, so applications can prove human origin without holding personal data.

Founding members of the validator set
Genesis Validators are the founding members of DEP Protocol's validator set, limited to 24 slots. Anseta and Four Pillars bring multi-network validator experience and have chosen to operate on their own infrastructure, at their own cost.
・Anseta, which spun out of enterprise infrastructure provider BCW Group, brings more than six years of professional validator operations experience across 35+ protocols.
・FP Validated, the validator arm of Four Pillars, operates institutional-grade infrastructure and provides staking services to businesses and institutions. Four Pillars will collaborate with DEA to publish research on DEP Protocol for audiences across Asia. Four Pillars and DEA will also bring together partners from their respective networks to build relationships and explore joint initiatives across the region.

Quotes
"The more activity AI generates, the more the internet depends on knowing what is human. People should not have to hand over their biometrics to prove it. We are proud that two professional operators have chosen to support DEP Protocol on their own infrastructure, and together with partners in Japan and around the world, we will bring human verification into everyday use."

Kozo Yamada, CEO, Digital Entertainment Asset

"Securing a network dedicated to proof of personhood demands resilient, independent node infrastructure. What sets DEP Protocol apart is its pragmatic approach to verifying humanity directly through everyday interactions. Joining as a Genesis Validator reflects Anseta's commitment to operating institutional-grade infrastructure for networks shaping the future of digital trust."

Brett Hornung, Chief Commercial Officer, Anseta

"As AI-generated activity becomes more common online, applications need practical ways to verify that an interaction comes from a real person. We're interested in DEP Protocol's approach to doing this without collecting biometric data. We're glad to support the network from launch as a Genesis Validator and look forward to working with DEA to show how this technology can be used across Asia and bring partners from our respective networks together to develop joint initiatives."

Jay Jeong, Co-founder and Head of Validator, Four Pillars

What's next
DEP Protocol's mainnet commenced technical operation on July 14, 2026. Genesis Activation, when Genesis Validators begin protocol operation, is scheduled for the end of November 2026. DEP Protocol's smart contracts completed an independent third-party security audit by TECHFUND in October 2026.

About DEP Protocol
DEP Protocol is a Layer 1 human verification infrastructure built on Avalanche technology. Through an SDK embedded in applications, it provides verifiable scores of whether user interactions are human, without moving raw interaction data off the device. Learn more at https://dep-protocol.com/

About Digital Entertainment Asset
Digital Entertainment Asset (DEA) is a Tokyo-based Web3 company with a branch in Singapore. DEA develops gamified services that address social challenges, and builds and operates DEP Protocol.

About Anseta
Anseta powers institutions onchain by providing enterprise-grade node, execution, data, and AI services. Born out of BCW Group, Anseta integrates node operations, data delivery, and onchain orchestration services through a SOC 2 Type II certified operating environment. Learn more at https://anseta.com/

About FP Validated
FP Validated is the validator arm of Four Pillars, Asia's leading crypto research & solution firm. Its experienced SREs and governance specialists support networks through reliable operations, active governance participation, and research-driven insights, building SOC 2-compliant, institutional-grade staking infrastructure across Asia. Learn more at https://validated.4pillars.io/

Media contact
Digital Entertainment Asset, Public Relations
Email: [email protected]