Sunny Lu: VeChain’s 2025 Renaissance, Real Utility, and the Path to Decentralized Sustainability

Web3’s future is being shaped by those who bridge technology and sustainability. As blockchain matures, real-world utility has become the currency of trust for both individuals and institutions. In this pivotal moment, VeChain CEO Sunny Lu offers a unique perspective on his company’s mission—and the larger transformation unfolding in crypto.

Sunny Lu is the CEO of VeChain, a pioneering enterprise blockchain platform recognized for its commitment to sustainability and mass adoption. BeInCrypto interviewed Lu in June 2025 to discuss the rollout of Stargate, VeChain’s new decentralization engine, and how the project’s evolving strategies aim to move beyond speculative hype into measurable impact.

Their conversation, held at the launchpad of VeChain’s most significant upgrade yet, illuminated ambitions for a truly democratized and utility-driven future, covering protocol upgrades, compliance, developer opportunities, and VeChain’s global reach.

The following interview reveals VeChain’s multi-layered approach, from grassroots ESG incentives to staking innovations that open decentralization to everyone. Lu makes it clear: this is VeChain’s renaissance—and its boldest step forward.​

The Evolution of VeChain: Infrastructure, Adoption, and Sustainability

VeChain has gone through three major phases, each shaped by a white paper. The first, in 2017, focused on building the core infrastructure. By 2019, we had moved to enterprise adoption, working with companies like Walmart, BYD, and others on food safety and sustainability.

In 2023, we launched our third white paper, “Web3 for Better,” which marks our current focus: building sustainability-driven applications. We launched vBetterDAO to encourage people to take better daily actions—so far, we’ve reached 2.7 million users and over 40 applications.

Now, we’re entering what we call the VeChain Renaissance, the most significant upgrade in our history. Its first milestone is the Stargate platform, launching July 1, designed to enable decentralization at scale.

Stargate and the Road to True Decentralization

Stargate is the first step of the VeChain Renaissance. It includes major protocol and tokenomics upgrades aimed at true decentralization. Most users can’t run validators because they require technical skills. Stargate introduces a staking system using NFTs to simplify participation.

Users can stake VET into smart contracts, mint NFTs of different levels based on their stake, and delegate those NFTs to validators, without giving up control of their funds. This approach removes technical barriers and brings in real rewards.

Validators can earn up to 15% APY, and delegators up to 12%.

Importantly, VET and VSO have been deemed MiCA compliant by the Central Bank of Ireland since March 2025, and we also ensure our model aligns with SEC guidance.

Weighted Proof-of-Stake and Flexible Participation

We’ll support 101 validators, as we do now with our Proof of Authority model, but we’re evolving to include up to 500,000 delegators through a weighted delegated Proof-of-Stake system.

Legacy XNode and Econode holders can swap into new NFTs, while new users can mint from seven NFT tiers based on staking amounts. The system is flexible and deflationary—users can unstake and burn their NFTs anytime.

Sustainability as VeChain’s Pillar: Applications and Impact

It’s still a pillar. Our vBetterDAO fosters both startups and big corporations to build decentralized applications that incentivize sustainable behaviors. For example:

• Markshaw and GreenCard reward people for using recycled mugs or buying organic goods.
• EVN, using Tesla APIs, rewards Tesla drivers for eco-friendly charging behavior.
• BYB (Build Your Body), co-developed with UFC, rewards users for physical workouts using motion detection.

These applications are highly engaging—some have over a million users with exceptional retention.

ESG, Greenwashing, and the Bottom-Up Alternative

We acknowledge that ESG can be politicized or used as greenwashing. Traditional ESG is top-down, driven by big corporations or financial institutions. We do the opposite.

Our approach is bottom-up, empowering individuals to make daily sustainable choices. These actions accumulate into real impact. Our vision complements traditional ESG with grassroots action and technology.

Opportunities for Developers

We offer several entry points:

• DevRel support – Our developer relations team is ready to assist.
• Grant programs – We incentivize developers to build applications aligned with our vision.
• BCG Consultation Program – In partnership with BCG, we help top developers with go-to-market strategies and partnerships.

Ultimately, vBetterDAO acts as an incubator, offering developers everything they need to launch and scale.

Global User Base and Institutional Vision

We’ve mapped our users worldwide: the U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa—you name it. We’re present almost everywhere, except a few sensitive regions.

We started in 2024. Johnny Garcia, formerly of Vanguard and Bitwise, joined us to lead our institutional strategy. We’re onboarding institutions not just as investors, but as validators.

These are long-term supporters, not speculators. They’re contributing to network security and aligned with our sustainability vision.

Everything is possible. We’re keeping our options open.

A Turning Point: Real World Utility in 2025 and Beyond

2025 is a turning point. Regulations are becoming clearer—MiCA in Europe, and increasing clarity from the SEC in the U.S.

Institutions are looking for real-world utility, not just narratives. That’s what we offer—real applications, real users, and real value.

We’re transitioning from a narrative-driven market to a fundamentals-driven one. It’s just like the evolution of the internet. I’m confident and bullish about where VeChain is headed.

Conclusion

Sunny Lu’s vision for VeChain is centered on accessibility, transparency, and measurable utility. Stargate’s NFT-based staking and global compliance drive VeChain to the forefront of decentralization.

Through sustainability initiatives and bold partnerships, VeChain continues to empower both individuals and institutions to generate tangible impact, one step at a time. As regulations clarify and technology matures, Lu’s confidence signals a new chapter where fundamentals and real-world value define blockchain’s next wave.