Indepth Research

Provide in-depth research reports and independent analysis, leveraging data, technology, and economic insights to deliver a comprehensive examination of the blockchain ecosystem, project potential, and market trends.

Dialogue with Xie Jiayin: I Have Ambition, and So Does Bitget

In a candid interview, Xie Jiayin, the Head of Greater China at Bitget, discusses his ambitious vision for the exchange and its rapid growth. Since joining in early 2024, Xie has championed a user-centric approach, aiming to build "the warmest exchange." Under his leadership, Bitget has expanded its user base to over 120 million, with monthly trading volume reaching $750 billion, making it a top-three exchange in the Chinese-speaking market. Xie emphasizes the importance of direct engagement, often working 12-14 hours daily and maintaining an active presence on social media, where he has posted over 17,000 tweets and replies. He insists on swift responses from his team to user inquiries, reflecting Bitget’s commitment to accountability and trust. Bitget’s strategy includes innovative products like UEX (Universal Exchange), offering traditional assets such as U.S. stocks, gold, and forex contracts. The platform recently became the first to achieve $10 billion in U.S. stock contract trading volume. Xie acknowledges the competitive landscape but remains confident in Bitget’s growth, targeting a monthly trading volume of $1 trillion by 2026. He also highlights Bitget’s philanthropic efforts, including a $12 million donation for disaster relief in Hong Kong, and the exchange’s focus on institutional and VIP services. Despite market fluctuations, Xie advocates for long-term optimism in crypto, comparing the industry’s current stage to the early internet era and encouraging young talent to join the evolving space. Xie’s personal and professional goals align with Bitget’s ambition: to solidify its position as a top global exchange and continue driving innovation-driven, user-focused growth.

深潮12/26 07:58

Dialogue with Xie Jiayin: I Have Ambition, and So Does Bitget

深潮12/26 07:58

Founder's Account: From Start to Abandonment, Why I'm No Longer Doing Web3 Payments

In this candid reflection, a serial entrepreneur shares their decision to step away from Web3 payment ventures after six months of deep immersion. Initially drawn by the promise of faster, more transparent, and globally efficient settlements—especially for cross-border and remote work scenarios—the founder quickly realized that the industry’s core challenges aren’t product-based but structural. Through on-the-ground research in places like Yiwu, Mexico, and Shuibei, they observed that real-world adoption of Web3 payments remains fragmented, relationship-dependent, and far from the scalable, product-driven opportunity often portrayed. The critical barrier? Dependence on banking relationships, compliance, licensing, risk management, and regulatory navigation—areas where small, agile teams lack the resources and long-term leverage. The author emphasizes that many seemingly profitable payment operations actually profit from risk tolerance, not operational excellence, and that sustainability hinges on resilience to regulatory and financial shocks. While still believing in Web3 payment’s long-term potential—especially as a back-end upgrade for global treasury management—they concluded that the sector demands deep industry assets, patience, and risk capital ill-suited to their team’s strengths. Instead, they plan to focus on the next layer: helping users navigate on-chain asset management and risk-aware investing, turning payment flows into sustainable value. This isn’t a rejection of Web3 payments but a pragmatic shift based on resource alignment and structural reality.

marsbit12/26 02:13

Founder's Account: From Start to Abandonment, Why I'm No Longer Doing Web3 Payments

marsbit12/26 02:13

Why Gen Z Wants Crypto on Their Christmas Wish List

Gen Z is leading the shift toward cryptocurrency as a preferred holiday gift, with 45% expressing excitement about receiving crypto compared to just 28% of all U.S. adults, according to a December 2025 Visa survey. This generation views digital assets like Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and a pathway to financial independence, driven by crypto’s strong long-term performance and growing institutional adoption. Despite recent market dips, Gen Z remains enthusiastic, partly due to economic constraints that make crypto gifting an accessible investment opportunity. For those cautious about volatility, alternatives like Bitcoin ETFs, small educational amounts, stablecoins, or hardware wallets offer safer entry points. This trend underscores a broader generational move toward digital finance and reflects crypto’s transition into mainstream acceptance.

ccn.com12/25 15:14

Why Gen Z Wants Crypto on Their Christmas Wish List

ccn.com12/25 15:14

From Banger to Trash: A Sharp Critique of a Web3 Creator's 2025

In his 2025 year-end review, a Web3 content creator reflects on a year marked by acceleration in both global events and the crypto space, driven by developments like Trump’s policies and major market shifts. He evaluates 12 of his own articles using a “夯到拉” (strong to weak) rating system. Top-rated pieces include an analysis of DATs (Digital Asset Treasuries) and their strategic use of Ethereum to build Layer 2 networks (“夯的批爆”), a data-driven report on Hyperliquid KOL trading performance (“夯”), and a forward-looking meme investment guide (“顶级”). Other well-received articles cover DeSci’s limitations, AIGC’s role in Web3 content, and tokenized equities like Exodus. Mid-tier articles discuss Trump’s tariff impact on Bitcoin mining, oracle growth beyond financial data, and GameFi’s decline, rated “人上人” or “NPC”. The lowest-rated piece compares Letsbonk.fun and Pump.fun, deemed “拉完了” for its lack of depth and relevance. The author concludes by acknowledging his growth as a creator in a turbulent year and commits to evolving with AI and industry changes despite expecting tougher times ahead.

marsbit12/25 11:44

From Banger to Trash: A Sharp Critique of a Web3 Creator's 2025

marsbit12/25 11:44

Thin Profit Business? No, DeFi Lending Protocols Are the Underestimated 'King of Value'

In the DeFi lending ecosystem, protocols like Aave and SparkLend capture more value than downstream vaults and even upstream asset issuers, challenging the notion that distribution is king. Despite perceptions of thin margins, lending protocols generate higher revenues than the vaults built on top of them. For example, Ether.fi’s vault pays Aave $4.5M in annual interest fees while earning only $1.07M in platform fees. Similarly, Fluid and Mellow vaults contribute significantly more value to lending protocols than they capture themselves. Even compared to asset issuers like Lido, lending protocols often yield greater economic benefits due to their central role in the credit stack. The true moat of lending protocols lies in their position as the highest value-capture layer in the on-chain credit value chain.

marsbit12/25 11:10

Thin Profit Business? No, DeFi Lending Protocols Are the Underestimated 'King of Value'

marsbit12/25 11:10

Even Satoshi Nakamoto Would Kowtow to the God of Wealth

The article humorously explores the growing trend of integrating traditional Chinese mysticism, such as fortune-telling and feng shui, into the cryptocurrency world. It begins with the author’s visit to a temple during the Chinese New Year, where they observe well-known crypto influencers and traders—often vocal about decentralization—engaging in superstitious rituals like burning incense and praying for wealth. The piece highlights how practices like astrological analysis of Bitcoin (e.g., predicting a difficult period in 2026 based on elemental cycles) and judging founders by their facial features have become part of crypto culture. Examples include a venture capital firm considering "face reading" as due diligence and a listed company CEO whose devotion to feng shui reportedly contributed to massive Bitcoin gains. The author argues that this turn to mysticism isn’t merely superstition but a psychological response to extreme market volatility. Like ancient maritime cultures relying on deities for safety in unpredictable seas, crypto participants use these beliefs as mental anchors amid chaotic price swings influenced by tweets and macros. Ultimately, when assets can swing 50% in a day, faith in something beyond charts becomes a way to cope.

marsbit12/25 10:21

Even Satoshi Nakamoto Would Kowtow to the God of Wealth

marsbit12/25 10:21

DeFi Is No Longer 'Sexy'

DeFi is losing its "sense of exploration" as it matures. While infrastructure and execution have improved, the ecosystem has become highly optimized around a narrow set of behaviors—primarily trading, short-term leverage, and incentive-driven participation. Capital now expects yield as compensation for risk rather than as a return on genuine utility. Lending functions more like instant financing than credit, and user engagement is often "rented" through incentives rather than sustained by organic demand. This efficiency comes at a cost: DeFi feels less like an open frontier and more like a refined but closed loop serving the same sophisticated users. Trust has been eroded by years of exploits, making users cautious and less willing to engage with experimental protocols. The core promise of DeFi—permissionless access, composability, and global liquidity—remains valid. However, the system now prioritizes speed, optionality, and exit liquidity, which limits its ability to attract new types of users or support long-term behaviors. For DeFi to regain its relevance, it must encourage different rational behaviors—such as capital staying through cycles, genuine credit markets, and yield based on real demand—not just repeated efficiency gains. Otherwise, it risks remaining a powerful but niche system.

marsbit12/25 10:09

marsbit12/25 10:09

World Cup 'Stress Test': How to Interpret the Development Prospects of Prediction Markets Next Year?

Summary: The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be a major stress test for the prediction market industry, which has moved from niche experimentation to mainstream adoption in 2025. Growth is now driven by distribution through major platforms like Robinhood, DraftKings, and FanDuel, rather than pure product innovation. The key constraint is no longer demand but the ability to operate at scale within strict regulatory frameworks, particularly in the US where the CFTC and state regulators are actively defining legal boundaries. The industry is bifurcating: compliant, licensed platforms are focusing on regulatory design and geographic rollout strategies, while crypto-native platforms like Polymarket are seeking legitimacy through acquisitions and enhanced controls. The 2026 World Cup will test infrastructure on liquidity, settlement integrity, and compliance under peak load. The long-term winners will be those that combine deep liquidity, regulatory trust, and seamless user experience, likely within larger financial super-apps.

marsbit12/25 10:08

World Cup 'Stress Test': How to Interpret the Development Prospects of Prediction Markets Next Year?

marsbit12/25 10:08

Huobi Growth Academy | 2025 In-Depth Crypto Market Research Report: Institutions, Stablecoins, and Regulation, 2025 Crypto Market Review and 2026 Outlook

The 2025 crypto market marked a structural turning point, shifting from retail-driven speculation to an institutionally-dominated landscape. Capital inflows via ETFs and regulated channels transformed market dynamics, reducing volatility but increasing sensitivity to macro interest rates. Stablecoins evolved into core global settlement infrastructure, with RWA (particularly on-chain U.S. Treasuries) scaling significantly, merging crypto with traditional finance. Regulatory clarity lowered institutional barriers, accelerating adoption of crypto as a configurable, auditable financial infrastructure. However, vulnerabilities in algorithmic and yield-bearing stablecoins exposed systemic risks, highlighting the need for transparency and quality differentiation. Looking to 2026, key variables include the cost of compliant capital, the quality of on-chain dollar systems, and the sustainability of real yield. Success will favor infrastructure and assets that thrive under capital, yield, and regulatory constraints.

深潮12/25 09:19

Huobi Growth Academy | 2025 In-depth Crypto Market Research Report: Institutions, Stablecoins, and Regulation, 2025 Crypto Market Review and 2026 Outlook

The 2025 crypto market underwent a structural transformation driven by three key shifts: institutional adoption, the maturation of the on-chain dollar system, and regulatory normalization. Institutional capital became the marginal buyer via ETFs and regulated vehicles, reducing volatility but increasing sensitivity to macro factors like interest rates. The market shifted from narrative-driven speculation to liquidity-driven, macro-sensitive asset allocation. Stablecoins evolved into core infrastructure, serving as the primary settlement layer and dollar proxy for on-chain economy, with transaction volumes rivaling major payment systems. Real-World Assets (RWA), particularly tokenized U.S. Treasuries, scaled significantly, introducing low-risk yield curves on-chain and merging DeFi with traditional finance. However, algorithmic and yield-bearing stablecoin failures exposed systemic fragility due to leverage and opacity. Regulatory clarity reduced institutional entry barriers, turning compliance into a competitive moat. Valuation models began incorporating regulatory costs, legal stability, and compliance efficiency, shifting focus from growth metrics to sustainable infrastructure. Looking ahead to 2026, key variables include macro liquidity conditions, the quality stratification of on-chain dollar instruments, sustainability of real yields, and the institutional moats built around compliance and distribution. The winners will be assets and infrastructures that thrive within these new constraints of capital, yield, and regulation.

marsbit12/25 08:49