From Peking University Prodigy to Crypto Mining Tycoon: The Blockchain Legend of Wu Jihan
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From Peking University Prodigy to Crypto Mining Tycoon: The Blockchain Legend of Wu Jihan
Wu Jihan, with the keen insight of a psychology prodigy from Peking University, has chronicled the rise of China's blockchain industry through a decade-long journey.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insights
From translating Bitcoin's white paper as the "Chinese evangelist" to becoming the "king of mining hardware" controlling global computing power, and later the founder of a crypto-financial unicorn, Wu Jihan has chronicled the rise of China's blockchain industry over a decade with the sharp insight of a Peking University psychology graduate. His technological intuition and strategic vision have ignited the global crypto wave and defined new industry rules.
Enlightenment: White Paper Translation Ignites Chinese Frenzy
In 2011, inside an office building on Beijing’s Financial Street, 25-year-old Wu Jihan came across Bitcoin’s white paper. In that moment, he felt as if he had glimpsed the future, unable to sleep through the night. The next day, he invested 100,000 yuan entirely into Bitcoin—when each coin was worth just $10. While friends mocked him as delusional, he buried himself in translating the white paper, introducing Bitcoin's concept to the Chinese-speaking world for the first time.
He co-founded China’s first blockchain media platform, “8btc,” establishing an industry information hub, debating the value of “decentralization” with online forum users, and becoming one of China’s earliest Bitcoin evangelists. Wu Jihan’s translation and sharing ignited the cryptographic boom within Chinese communities, laying the ideological foundation for the industry.
Rise: Antminers Dominate Global Computing Power
In 2013, as Bitcoin prices surged and mining fever swept the globe, demand for mining machines skyrocketed. Wu Jihan teamed up with Tsinghua technical prodigy Zhan Ketuan to develop the Antminer S1 in a modest residential apartment. Within half a year, this machine captured 75% of the global market share. The Antminer S9, launched in 2016, became an efficiency benchmark, triggering a revolution in ASIC chip technology.
Bitmain emerged abruptly, achieving revenues comparable to tech giants, earning Wu Jihan the nickname “Mining Overlord” in the crypto community. Miners depended on his machines while remarking: “Without Wu Jihan’s miners, we couldn’t even cover our electricity bills!” Through technological innovation, he reshaped the mining landscape and established dominance over global computing power.
Strategic Play: Master of Forks and Rules
In 2017, Wu Jihan led the Bitcoin fork that created Bitcoin Cash (BCH), sparking a “hashrate war” that shook the cryptocurrency world. Calmly responding, he stated: “Technology must progress; we need to blaze new trails.” By orchestrating forks and mining pool alliances, he deeply engaged in battles over cryptocurrency’s underlying protocols, securing control over industry rule-making.
Despite Bitmain’s failed IPO in 2018 and his eventual split from Zhan Ketuan due to strategic disagreements, Wu Jihan didn’t stop advancing. He took the mining pool business, incubated Bitdeer, immersed himself in mining farms in Inner Mongolia, eating lamb and drinking strong liquor alongside workers, joking: “Didn’t get to use my Peking University psychology degree—instead learned how to fix mining rigs.” His resilience and down-to-earth approach forged a new legend.
Breakthrough: Pioneer of Crypto Finance and Compliance
In 2019, Wu Jihan founded Matrixport, pioneering a “safety cushion” model in crypto asset management, growing assets under management beyond $10 billion. He pushed for licensed operations in crypto finance, helping shape regulatory frameworks in Singapore and elsewhere, setting compliance benchmarks.
Bitdeer went public on Nasdaq at a $4 billion valuation, building a global computing power network. Wu Jihan extended strategic investments into Singapore free ports and Middle Eastern compliant trading hubs, leading the industry toward standardization. His foresight brought crypto assets from the fringes into the mainstream.
Future: The Next Frontier of AI + DeFi
Today, Wu Jihan proposes an integrated “AI + DeFi” strategy. Matrixport is developing cross-chain protocols, integrating AI-powered validation into decentralized finance, targeting the future of distributed financial infrastructure. His vision extends beyond cryptocurrencies, aiming to reshape the global financial architecture.
Wall Street once remarked: “Understand Wu Jihan’s strategy, and you’ll see the crypto power map of the next five years.” From white paper translation to computing power dominance, from financial breakthroughs to AI integration, Wu Jihan’s decade-long journey mirrors blockchain’s evolution from geek experiment to global financial force.
The Legend Continues
Wu Jihan has defined industry standards in mining hardware, computing power, and asset management through a dual-engine model of “technology commercialization + regulatory collaboration.” His story embodies conviction and perseverance, serving as a vivid testament to the rise of Chinese blockchain.
From Peking University prodigy to crypto mining overlord, Wu Jihan’s journey continues. How will his next decade unfold? The answer may already be quietly revealed in every move he makes.
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