As we step into 2025, the blockchain industry in Taiwan continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, innovation, and leadership on the global stage. This annual list recognizes the top 30 most influential individuals whose contributions have significantly shaped the local ecosystem over the past year. Beyond celebrating their achievements, we've invited these leaders to share their expert predictions and trend observations for the coming year, providing invaluable insights for investors, industry professionals, and policymakers alike.
Industry Leaders and Visionaries
Evan Cheng: Co-founder of Sui Network and CEO of Mysten Labs
Evan Cheng has been instrumental in the development of the Sui blockchain, which launched its mainnet in May 2023. The network's native token, SUI, reached an impressive $4.60 this year, securing its position among the top 15 cryptocurrencies globally. The Sui ecosystem has continued to expand, encompassing diverse applications including decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, liquid staking solutions, and derivatives platforms.
2025 Predictions and Observations:
"Web3's vision centers on creating decentralized solutions to various problems. We cannot return to human-centered approaches for solving these challenges. The shift toward decentralized infrastructure represents an irreversible evolution in how we build and interact with technology."
Ge Ruojun (Punk): Legislator
Legislator Ge has been a proactive supporter of Taiwan's cryptocurrency industry, advocating for self-regulatory frameworks and trade associations. His legislative efforts have included questioning regulatory authorities about Bitcoin ETF discretionary investment, stablecoin regulations, and strategic Bitcoin reserves. He has also spearheaded amendments to the Electronic Signature Act and facilitated international exchanges by participating in global events like World App Day and WebX in Japan.
2025 Predictions and Observations:
"The bull and bear cycle rhythm continues, but potential new developments in U.S. technology and economy may accelerate Bitcoin's transition from alternative asset to mainstream adoption. Users will shift from industry professionals to end consumers. Artificial intelligence continues its rapid advancement, eventually making us realize that digital, intelligent, and economic dimensions are fundamentally interconnected rather than separate entities. These forces will converge and collectively advance toward Mars."
Zheng Guangtai: Founding Chairman of Taiwan VASP Association and Founder of Bito Group
As the inaugural chairman of Taiwan's Virtual Asset Service Provider Association, Zheng has dedicated himself to establishing industry standards and practices. Under his leadership, Bito partnered with NewebPay, which boasts 300,000 merchants, to launch the BitoPay cryptocurrency payment service. The company also developed an NFC physical cold wallet, significantly enhancing user asset security.
2025 Predictions and Observations:
"Bito consistently upholds the spirit of 'using technology to solve problems,' and blockchain technology represents the key solution for Web2 companies facing transformation challenges. We predict that by 2025, blockchain technology will achieve broader applications across finance, supply chain management, and digital identity verification. Particularly, I'm optimistic about RWA (Real World Assets) solving issues of low liquidity, transparency, and transaction efficiency for physical assets like real estate and artwork.
As more countries gradually establish regulatory frameworks for digital assets, we welcome more compliance-focused, innovation-driven businesses to enter the market, bringing renewed energy to Taiwan's blockchain industry.
We anticipate that in 2025, public discussions about digital currencies will extend beyond fraud concerns to focus on the convenience and efficiency brought by their open applications."
Liu Shiwei: Founder and CEO of MaiCoin Group
MaiCoin Group provides virtual currency trading and blockchain technology services, standing as Taiwan's only virtual currency trading group with an independent blockchain technology company. Their portfolio includes the MaiCoin digital asset trading platform, MAX digital asset exchange, AMIS network wallet custody technology, and Qubic blockchain technology integration services.
2025 Predictions and Observations:
"Bitcoin surpassed $100,000 this year, driven by multiple factors including Bitcoin spot ETF approvals in early 2024 that brought large financial institutions into the market, and recent pro-cryptocurrency developments following Donald Trump's presidential election victory. His relatively friendly stance toward virtual currencies creates exciting expectations for the industry's future development and changes.
In Taiwan, regulatory frameworks have reached new milestones with authorities providing relatively clear development blueprints. How industry participants adapt and break through represents another area worth watching and anticipating. Overall, the virtual currency industry remains vibrant and positive, and we can expect virtual currencies to enter the mainstream public consciousness."
Xiao Huizong: Vice Chairman of Taiwan VASP Association
Xiao played a pivotal role in establishing Taiwan's Virtual Asset Service Provider Association in 2024, serving as its first vice chairman. Under his leadership, XREX Group secured strategic investment from stablecoin leader Tether, and XREX's Singapore subsidiary obtained a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license.
2025 Predictions and Observations:
"2024 marked the beginning of blockchain and crypto industries formally entering regulatory frameworks. During this critical phase, regulators, industry participants, and law enforcement agencies are re-examining and understanding this rapidly developing field from their respective perspectives. This presents not just challenges but opportunities for all parties to build foundations for the industry's future.
Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate increased dialogue and exchange. Mutual understanding between regulators, law enforcement, and industry participants will become crucial for stable industry development. Businesses will learn to view their roles and responsibilities from regulatory and enforcement perspectives, actively complying with requirements. Meanwhile, regulatory and law enforcement agencies will deepen their understanding of the industry's nature and technical details through cooperation with businesses, collectively exploring development directions suitable for Taiwan.
We hope this triangular cooperation model can establish a balanced and stable industry environment where innovation and regulation coexist, further enhancing Taiwan's competitiveness in the global blockchain and crypto finance领域."
Emerging Trends and Sector Developments
The predictions from Taiwan's blockchain leaders reveal several key trends expected to shape the industry in 2025:
Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Convergence
Multiple experts highlighted the growing integration between AI and blockchain technologies. AI agents are expected to become transformative tools across industries, revolutionizing how we interact with technology in various aspects of life. The combination of blockchain's transparency and security with AI's automation capabilities will create new opportunities in DeFi, supply chain management, and gaming.
Regulatory Clarity and Institutional Adoption
2025 is anticipated to bring more comprehensive and clear regulatory frameworks globally, particularly as the Trump administration in the U.S. implements more cryptocurrency-friendly policies. This regulatory clarity is expected to encourage greater participation from traditional financial institutions and attract more institutional investors to the cryptocurrency market.
Real World Asset (RWA) Tokenization
The tokenization of real-world assets is predicted to gain significant traction, with institutions seeking more transparent and liquid decentralized solutions for high-value assets like real estate, artwork, and commodities. This trend is expected to democratize wealth accumulation while enhancing operational efficiency in global markets.
Bitcoin's Mainstream Acceptance
Many experts anticipate more countries will consider Bitcoin as strategic reserve assets, following the pattern established by companies like MicroStrategy. This institutional and national-level adoption is reshaping the cryptocurrency market landscape and driving Bitcoin toward broader mainstream acceptance.
DeFi Evolution and Payment Solutions
Decentralized finance is expected to evolve significantly, with traditional financial institutions increasingly entering the DeFi space to create hybrid financial ecosystems. Payment solutions leveraging blockchain's instant settlement capabilities are anticipated to expand, potentially revolutionizing traditional payment systems through reduced costs and increased efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Taiwan's blockchain ecosystem unique?
Taiwan's blockchain ecosystem combines strong technical foundations with vibrant community support. The island's robust semiconductor industry provides hardware advantages, while its democratic values support innovation-friendly policies. Taiwanese projects often demonstrate particular strength in developing practical applications that bridge Asian and global markets.
How will regulatory developments affect Taiwan's blockchain industry in 2025?
Most experts anticipate positive regulatory developments in 2025, with clearer frameworks expected to emerge. This should help legitimate businesses operate with greater certainty while protecting consumers. Taiwan's regulatory approach appears to be balancing innovation with responsibility, potentially making it an attractive jurisdiction for blockchain businesses.
What investment opportunities look promising for 2025?
Several sectors show particular promise according to industry leaders: AI-blockchain integration, RWA tokenization, DeFi 2.0 applications, and Bitcoin ecosystem development. However, investors should conduct thorough research and consider their risk tolerance, as the cryptocurrency market remains highly volatile.
How can newcomers safely enter the blockchain space?
Beginners should start with education from reputable sources, focus on understanding fundamental concepts before investing, and always practice good security hygiene including using hardware wallets and enabling two-factor authentication. 👉 Explore educational resources for beginners
What role will stablecoins play in 2025?
Stablecoins are expected to see continued growth and integration into mainstream financial systems. They'll likely play crucial roles in RWA developments, AI agent ecosystems, and payment solutions. However, their regulatory status may face challenges, particularly regarding compliance standards across different jurisdictions.
Are there particular blockchain platforms worth watching in 2025?
Several platforms received mentions from experts, including Sui, TON, Solana, and emerging EVM-compatible chains. Each offers unique features and growing ecosystems. The TON blockchain, integrated with Telegram's massive user base, particularly stands out for its potential to drive mainstream adoption through seamless user experiences.
Conclusion
The insights from Taiwan's top blockchain influencers paint a picture of an industry maturing while maintaining its innovative edge. The convergence of artificial intelligence with blockchain technology, increasing regulatory clarity, and the tokenization of real-world assets represent significant trends to watch in 2025.
While optimism runs high, experts consistently emphasize the importance of risk management, education, and strategic thinking. The potential for life-changing gains exists alongside the possibility of substantial losses, making informed decision-making crucial for all market participants.
As Taiwan continues to develop its blockchain ecosystem, the combination of technical expertise, regulatory progress, and international connectivity positions it uniquely to contribute significantly to the global Web3 landscape. The coming year promises to be transformative for the industry, with Taiwanese innovators well-positioned to help shape its future direction.