# Decade Related Articles

ViaBTC CEO Haipo Yang: Looking Back at the Decade, Re-understanding the Value of Crypto

In "A Decade in Retrospect: Re-evaluating the Value of Crypto," ViaBTC & CoinEx CEO Haipo Yang reflects on the cryptocurrency industry's evolution since founding ViaBTC in 2016. Initially a niche interest, Crypto has fundamentally transformed key financial infrastructures like market making, trading, settlement, and issuance through open protocols, as seen with Uniswap and GMX, and enabled efficient cross-border transfers via stablecoins. While acknowledging speculation's role in fueling innovation and liquidity, Yang warns it often overshadows real demand. He distinguishes between blockchain (a trust-minimizing technology), Web3 (an application model requiring genuine utility), and Crypto assets. The latter's value derives from block space as a commodity (e.g., gas fees) and "sovereign liquidity premium" (e.g., Bitcoin's censorship resistance), with most tokens lacking such dual support. Looking ahead, Yang argues the next decade's focus should shift from "open participation" to "sustainable participation," emphasizing reliable infrastructure. He predicts consolidation towards networks with strong security and liquidity (like Bitcoin and Ethereum), and sees DeFi becoming a specialized tool rather than a mass replacement for traditional finance. Crypto will integrate into traditional finance (e.g., via Bitcoin ETFs) but may sacrifice some decentralization for mainstream adoption. Real future demand may come from AI agents and machine economies needing permissionless settlement. Ultimately, Yang believes Crypto's enduring value lies not in hype or replacing everything, but in verifiably reducing trust costs, increasing efficiency, and providing stable, transparent services across market cycles.

marsbit5h ago