To secure your assets before the Harmony blockchain shutdown, you must interact with individual dApps or use block explorers to withdraw funds from smart contracts prior to September 10, 2026. The Harmony team has officially announced a transition period where the native ONE token will be migrated to the Ethereum network. Users who fail to exit decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols or liquidity pools before the cutoff date risk losing their collateral and liquidity positions as the network's validators are decommissioned.
The decision to shutter the Harmony network stems from what the development team describes as escalating 'AI threats' to the chain’s security and consensus stability. By moving to Ethereum, the team aims to leverage the security of a more robust ecosystem while repositioning their business model toward AI-generated video processing. This pivot follows a turbulent period for the project, which has struggled to regain its 2021-era momentum following high-profile bridge exploits and shifting market dynamics.
For the broader crypto market, this shutdown represents a significant consolidation of the layer-1 landscape. Investors are closely watching how the ONE token will be valued once it becomes an Ethereum-based asset and whether the AI-video pivot can provide a sustainable utility for the project. Current ONE holders should prioritize self-custody and follow official migration guides to ensure their tokens are eligible for the upcoming Ethereum-based airdrop or swap.
Regulators in the US are likely to view this transition through the lens of consumer protection, especially regarding the transparency of the shutdown process. As the September 10 deadline approaches, market participants should watch for potential volatility in the ONE/ETH pair and monitor the Harmony team's GitHub for the open-sourcing of their new AI-video architecture. The exit of a major layer-1 network underscores the intense competition in the scaling sector and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on blockchain development strategies.