Dialogue with Gate Founder Han Lin: Optimistic About 2026, and Why He Believes 'We Won't Return to a Deep Bear Market'
In a recent interview, Gate.io founder Lin Han shared his optimistic outlook on the crypto market, macroeconomic trends, and the evolving regulatory and technological landscape. He argued that the market is unlikely to return to a severe bear phase, citing strong macroeconomic conditions, expected monetary easing, and sustained institutional interest. While acknowledging potential risks like an AI sector correction, he emphasized that AI's tangible applications differentiate it from past tech bubbles.
Han discussed the minimal impact of the recent October 11 market crash, attributing market resilience to ample stablecoin liquidity. He highlighted the industry-wide adoption of Proof of Reserves (PoR) post-FTX, advocating for enhanced methods incorporating zero-knowledge proofs and third-party audits.
On emerging trends, he noted the resurgence of privacy-focused protocols like Zcash and the rapid growth of Perpetual DEXs (e.g., Hyperliquid), driven by improved blockchain infrastructure, lower costs, and better wallet experiences. He anticipates increased regulatory scrutiny on DeFi platforms in the future.
Regarding Gate.io's strategy, Han emphasized a dual focus: expanding its Web3 ecosystem, as user activity migrates on-chain, and strengthening its global compliant exchanges, including its recently launched U.S. platform. He ruled out aggressive layoffs, reflecting Gate's consistent operational approach, and expressed long-term ambitions for a public listing following continued compliance efforts.
He dismissed DATs (Digital Asset Trusts) as unsustainable and commented on the challenges of new stablecoin issuance due to strong network effects favoring incumbents like USDT. Finally, he addressed market manipulation concerns, noting improved exchange risk controls, and defended Gate's remote-work culture as aligned with the fast-paced, global nature of the crypto industry.
marsbit12/19 05:14
