BlockBeats Live Report: On April 20, 2026, during the first day of the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival, Binance Co-CEO He Yi participated in a fireside chat on the theme “Reshaping Convenience: The Next Decade of Web3, AI, and the Smart Economy,” where he stated:
“When the Internet first rose in Silicon Valley, it had a very strong hippie culture. In that era, many people also thought that those who were into the Internet and technology were geeks, freaks. But in that era, I believe the entire Internet experienced a significant branching. The group that went left created the dark web, pursuing absolute freedom, while the group that went right created Google, Amazon, becoming ordinary commercial companies serving more people globally. If you ask me where Binance is heading, we will definitely unwaveringly move towards becoming a commercial company serving the masses.
But at the same time, as we serve the masses, I think one thing we have not forgotten is that technological innovation is still very important, whether it is blockchain technology or AI technology. Many times, people may think that the stigmatization in the crypto field or the so-called public opinion is normal for new things. If everyone understands, if there is no controversy, how can there be so many arduous challenges and innovations? Looking back at when we used to go to internet cafes when we were young, at that time, my mom wanted nothing more than to break my legs.”
“So when we see today that blockchain is being embraced by both Wall Street and traditional finance with a 180° turn, I actually think it indicates that the industry is becoming more and more mature. Likewise, the early adopter’s dividend of this industry has actually become less and less. When the early adopter’s dividend diminishes, people’s complaints will increase. When the early adopter’s dividend period is over, it enters the so-called maturity stage, which means that all these products need to truly have value and be implemented.”
“So I actually have great respect for many of the industry’s technical experts, but I often ask them a question: What is this technology used for, what problem can it solve, and can anyone be willing to pay for it?”
