The blockchain landscape in Taiwan continues to evolve with increasing momentum, driven by technological innovation, regulatory advancements, and a vibrant ecosystem of developers, investors, and thought leaders. As 2023 concluded with major milestones—Bitcoin ETF approvals, the rise of Ordinals, and a resurgence in Layer-1 ecosystems—the stage is set for a transformative 2024.
This year marks the fifth edition of Taiwan’s annual Most Influential Figures in Blockchain recognition, highlighting key contributors across Web3 development, policy advocacy, venture capital, NFT innovation, and community leadership. These individuals are not only shaping the local industry but also positioning Taiwan as a significant player in the global Web3 movement.
Below, we synthesize forward-looking insights from leading figures on what to expect in 2024—from macro trends like institutional adoption and regulatory clarity to emerging narratives such as Bitcoin L2s, AI-blockchain integration, and real-world asset tokenization.
Core Industry Leaders Shaping Taiwan’s Web3 Future
Evan Cheng – Co-Founder of Sui & CEO of Mysten Labs
Sui’s mainnet launched in May 2023, quickly establishing itself among the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap. With over $200 million in total value locked (TVL) and more than 20 DeFi projects built on its network, Sui is emerging as a high-performance platform for consumer and enterprise Web3 applications.
Evan’s 2024 Outlook:
- Bullish sentiment remains strong due to Bitcoin ETF speculation, institutional interest, and anticipated rate cuts.
- Retail-driven narratives will give way to value-creation-focused development.
- Consumer-facing Web3 products and enterprise adoption will drive a surge in developer activity.
- Sui aims to lead as a scalable foundation for complex Web3 use cases.
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Lin Zhichen (Jamie Lin) – Chairman of AppWorks
AppWorks manages $350 million across four funds and supports a Web3 ecosystem comprising 129 startups with a combined valuation of $13.2 billion. The firm has been instrumental in nurturing early-stage innovation in zero-knowledge proofs, account abstraction, and decentralized derivatives.
Jamie’s 2024 Forecast:
- Q1 highlights: Bitcoin ETF approval and Ethereum’s Cancun upgrade enabling proto-danksharding.
- Q2 milestone: Bitcoin halving event.
- As regulatory frameworks mature, expect broader enterprise adoption of blockchain technology.
- More “invisible” blockchain applications will emerge—products that seamlessly integrate Web3 without users noticing the underlying tech.
Alex Liu – Founder & CEO of MaiCoin Group
As one of Taiwan’s longest-standing digital asset groups, MaiCoin operates MAX Exchange, AMIS blockchain infrastructure, and Qubic NFT solutions. In 2023, it launched MaiPay, expanding crypto payment utility.
Alex’s 2024 Predictions:
- Bitcoin halving will reignite bullish cycles, following historical patterns.
- Regulatory developments signal long-term sustainability—not restriction.
- Traditional finance is entering via tokenized green bonds, ETFs, and cross-border payments.
- Real-world assets (RWA), carbon credits, and supply chain finance will see increased on-chain representation.
Matt Cheng – Founder of Mindwork Capital
With over $400 million under management, Mindwork Capital focuses on early-stage Web3 startups in the U.S. and Asia. Matt brings deep experience from advising global unicorns and building fintech ventures.
Matt’s Key Trends for 2024:
- AI + Blockchain Integration: AI can enhance blockchain security through error detection; blockchain provides verifiable data for AI models. Expect practical implementations in 2024.
- Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval Likely: Applications from BlackRock, Invesco, Franklin Templeton increase chances of SEC approval—potentially driving mainstream exposure.
- Tokenized Payments Gain Traction: PayPal and JPMorgan have already entered; more U.S. banks expected to follow with stablecoin-based systems.
Audrey Yang – CGO of Orderly Network & Founder of Radiance Ventures
Orderly Network has facilitated over $500 million in trading volume, empowering dApps with liquidity infrastructure.
Audrey’s 2024 Vision:
- Bitcoin DeFi Summer 2.0: BRC-20 and tBTC are bridging Bitcoin into DeFi ecosystems. Institutional inflows could multiply if even 0.003% of traditional wealth management flows into BTC via ETFs.
- SocialFi Evolution: Projects like DCT (Dream Come True) blend social trading with AI assistants. Entertainment IPs (e.g., Stephen Chow films) are entering NFTs—blurring lines between Web2 fame and Web3 monetization.
Wayne Huang – Co-Founder & Group CEO of XREX
XREX became the first Taiwanese crypto firm to receive preliminary approval for Singapore’s Major Payment Institution (MPI) license—a major step toward compliant cross-border payments.
Wayne’s 2024 Expectations:
- Stablecoins and CBDCs will expand in international settlements.
- Demand for SWIFT alternatives is rising due to geopolitical shifts and emerging market needs.
- Only stablecoins have achieved true product-market fit—used daily by millions for remittances and financial resilience in unstable economies.
Regulatory Momentum & Institutional Convergence
萧滙宗 Winston – Convener of Taiwan VASP Guild Preparatory Committee
Winston has led efforts to establish the Republic of China Virtual Currency Business Association, aiming for formal registration in 2024.
Winston’s Regulatory Insight:
- 2024 is a watershed year: the industry splits clearly into regulated centralized entities and resilient decentralized builders.
- Compliance is no longer optional—only licensed players can compete in regulated markets.
- Decentralized innovation will accelerate as regulatory clarity frees resources from compliance ambiguity.
江永昌 Jiang Yongchang – Legislative Yuan Member & Draft Proposer of Virtual Asset Management Act
Jiang spearheaded the draft bill that passed first reading in Taiwan’s legislature.
His 2024 Priority:
- Clear legal frameworks are essential for investor protection, anti-money laundering (AML), and fraud prevention.
- With VASP guidelines issued and public association formation underway, Taiwan is moving toward comprehensive regulation—balancing innovation with risk control.
戴松志 Simon – Deputy GM of Far Eastern Bank’s Digital Financial Division
Far Eastern Bank released the 2023 Virtual Asset Survey, revealing generational attitudes toward crypto investment and regulation.
Simon’s 2024 Outlook:
- Taiwan’s top blockchain talent will unite into a “national dream team” competing globally.
- Banks and VASPs will collaborate on anti-fraud mechanisms (“detect, notify, control, improve”).
- Compliance builds trust—trust enables mass adoption. The “new era” of blockchain begins when users feel safe.
Emerging Tech Frontiers: AI, Identity & User Experience
陈伯韦 Po Chen – Co-Founder of TonX Studio & Early Bitcoin Scholar
Po Chen helped build the largest Chinese Bitcoin community (163K members) and incubates TON ecosystem projects like TonKey wallet and TonDaddy domain service.
His 2024 Forecasts:
- Bitcoin Layer 1 will support new asset classes beyond BRC-20; Layer 2 applications will emerge rapidly.
- Telegram (1.4B users) may soon ship TON Wallet by default—making it a gateway to Web3 payments and mini-apps.
- TON API development (TonFura) aims to support billions of users at scale.
冯彦文 Yenwen Feng – Co-Founder of Perpetual Protocol
Perpetual Protocol has processed over $70 billion in trading volume on Optimism.
Yenwen’s Predictions:
- Lower development barriers via Rollups will enable more app-specific chains.
- DeFi competition shifts from features to user experience—especially for non-expert retail users.
- Rate cuts could trigger capital inflows, fueling another speculative cycle.
陈昶吾 Chang-Wu Chen – Chief Scientist at imToken
imToken serves over 10 million users worldwide and leads research in account abstraction.
Chang-Wu’s Technical Outlook:
- Account abstraction will enable gasless transactions, social recovery, and paymasters—making wallets more intuitive.
- StarkNet may see native AA adoption in 2024.
- zkEVM progress and privacy-preserving payment designs will influence bridge and DEX protocols.
Consumer Adoption & Cross-Domain Innovation
黄耀文 Wayne Huang – Co-Founder of XREX (Reiterated for Emphasis)
Beyond compliance, Wayne emphasizes stablecoins’ real-world utility:
“USDT isn’t just for speculation—it’s how people in Argentina, Turkey, or Venezuela feed their families.”
In conflict zones and high-inflation regions, stablecoins serve as lifelines—not luxuries.
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邦妮 Bonnie – Founder of Bonnie Blockchain
With over 7.3 million YouTube views, Bonnie makes crypto accessible through engaging content like Crypto Battle Royale.
Bonnie’s 2024 Themes:
- Traditional finance watches ETFs, halving events, and Fed decisions closely—these shape next bull run intensity.
- Compliance builds credibility—critical for institutional entry.
- Bitcoin ecosystem expansion goes beyond memes—real infrastructure is being built.
- RWA tokenization (real estate, IP, carbon credits) offers new liquidity frontiers.
JZ – Founder of JZ Invest & Notcoin Asia’s Largest Guild
JZ focuses on alpha research across primary and secondary markets.
JZ’s Bold Prediction:
“BTC hits $100K by end of 2024—triggering a violent bull run into 2025.”
He believes FOMO from traditional investors post-ETF approval will drive unprecedented inflows—even amid macro risks like war or defaults.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Will Bitcoin ETF approval really impact the market?
A: Yes—historically, major regulatory approvals precede bull runs. ETFs lower entry barriers for pension funds and retail investors alike.
Q: Is Taiwan becoming a Web3 hub?
A: Increasingly so—through talent development (AppWorks), regulatory clarity (VASP Guild), hardware innovation (CoolWallet), and community building (TON Taipei).
Q: What does “real-world asset tokenization” mean?
A: It means representing physical assets—like real estate or carbon credits—as digital tokens on blockchain for easier trading and fractional ownership.
Q: Are NFTs still relevant in 2024?
A: Absolutely—but beyond art. NFTs now power ticketing, loyalty programs, fashion authentication, and digital identity.
Q: How important is AI-blockchain convergence?
A: Critically so. AI needs trustworthy data; blockchain ensures provenance. Together, they enable verifiable AI outputs and decentralized machine learning (zkML).
Q: Can average users benefit from Web3?
A: Yes—with better UX (e.g., MPC wallets), simplified onboarding, and real-use cases like remittances or micropayments.
Final Thoughts: A Year of Transformation
Taiwan’s blockchain ecosystem stands at an inflection point. With seasoned leaders driving technical innovation, regulators establishing guardrails, and communities fostering education—the foundation for sustainable growth is stronger than ever.
Key themes for 2024 include:
- Bitcoin renaissance: From L2 scaling to DeFi expansion.
- Regulatory maturation: VASP associations forming; legal clarity increasing.
- AI + Blockchain synergy: zkML, verifiable AI models.
- User-centric design: MPC wallets, account abstraction.
- Real-world impact: Stablecoins for financial inclusion, RWAs for institutional adoption.
While speculation persists, the focus is shifting toward durable innovation—projects solving real problems with long-term vision.
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As the line between CeFi and DeFi blurs—and as Asia accelerates its role in global Web3 leadership—Taiwan is poised to play a defining role in shaping the next chapter of decentralized technology.
The future isn’t just coming—it’s being coded today.