Compelling interview with Yi Liu Co-founder and CTO of Blockchain Ape
The success of a project can often be predicted by the passion, acumen, expertise, and vision of its team and its closest advisors. Most recently, Chief Advisor Yi Liu sat down to discuss his history, expertise, Involvement with DePocket, vision, and the potential of the project. His answers were both enlightening and encouraging, highly worth a read for any #DePocketer!
- Hello Yi Liu, It’s an honor to have you here. I’m sure the community would love to know more about you! Could you tell us a bit more about yourself and how/why you got into this industry?
Hello everyone! I’m Liu. It’s my pleasure to be here. Thank you.
Anyhow, I was born and raised in Shanghai. In 2003, I started studying abroad in Japan and got my Master’s degree from Nagoya University. After that, I worked in system development in the IT field.
In 2013, a close classmate of mine, James Gong — one of the blockchain pioneers and a co-founder of LongHash, invited me to join Bitcoin mining.
Since then, I have been fascinated by the simplicity and beauty of blockchain technology.
After that, I joined Longhash to work on many blockchain projects related to ICO, DEX, DiFi, and NFT.
In 2018, I along with some savvy friends in related fields — founded Blockchain Ape with a focus on developing Blockchain projects in Japan. These days we aim to combine VR and blockchain technology to create breakthrough products that bring new value to the industry.
2. A Lot of projects come and go, but sometimes we miss opportunities. Are there any memorable projects you really liked and missed?
Blockchain is a very vast industry now and interesting new things are constantly appearing every day. It’s easy to miss out or misjudge an opportunity
In 2014, Ethereum caught my eye. I actually participated in the ICO event of Ethereum. However, I made the mistake of selling too soon. Needless to say, my investment could’ve produced a higher yield. Since then I have been a die hard believer in Ethereum
3. Can you tell us about a Blockchain project that you find most interesting and impressive?
Of the projects I have been involved in, ICOAGE — once the largest ICO platform in China — is the project that has left the greatest impression on me.
Every day I had to deal with so many bugs that I had never encountered forcing me to work tirelessly to the point of exhaustion.
However, that project was also very successful.
I love being hands-on with my projects, it allows me to really contribute to their success. Currently, I am focusing on developing NFT and DeFi related projects. This is what makes DePocket such a perfect project since it optimizes that industry.
4. With many years of experience working with many different blockchain and defi projects, how do you evaluate the DeFi landscape, what is its potential?
Imagine that blockchain is a sword powerful enough to reshape the world — then imagine that DeFi is the sharp edge of that sword. I have been involved in a DEX project for a long time, developing an exchange that can support HFT (high-frequency trading) and uses the public blockchain PoS (Proof of Stake).
When developing DEX, I faced many difficulties, there were times when I thought I would give up, but I believe that DEX in particular and DeFi in general is potentially capable of changing the way money moves in this world to such an extent that our out-dated traditional systems will be FORCED to adapt — making prosperity and opportunity available to MUCH more people.
5. How did you find out about DePocket? What role do you think it can play in the DeFi world?
I found out about DePocket through a friend’s recommendation. I immediately realized its potential so I started researching. In the DeFi world, people have built a lot of infrastructure, but in my opinion, it is definitely not enough. The connections are incomplete.
The DeFi world is scattered and can be very overwhelming for ordinary users. Depocket is an intersection that connects the limitless highways of blockchain infrastructures and makes DeFi more accessible to any user who wants to participate in the crypto world. The goal of the DePocket’s development team is to quickly grow to become the most important link in the DeFi world.
6. Why did you decide to join DePocket as an advisor? What’s its value?
In the DeFi world, there are too many platforms, wallets, and tokens. These variations are growing constantly and beyond comprehension. I myself have to memorize too much information. Not only that, I have to get used to many new types of user interfaces across new platforms. This is a growing problem.
As a person with so much experience in the blockchain industry, I find this cumbersome and exhausting. Now imagine what ordinary users have to deal with? It can be absolutely overwhelming. It will be very difficult for us to spread DeFi to the whole world in the current situation.
In my opinion, DePocket’s mission is to solve those infrastructure and asset management problems for users, so that the platform has the potential to grow into an indispensable platform in the future.
In the future I hope to be even more proactive with DePocket. By also helping in communications, advertising and community engagement.
7. What value does DePocket bring to its users? What should DePockets next step be?
As long as it continues to contribute convenience to the DeFi world, DePocket is already adding value.
In addition to helping general users access DeFi platforms on a single, easy-to-use, convenient interface, DePocket can also support DeFi application developers. Developing a current DeFi application can be extremely expensive and time-consuming. DePocket can provide an API that allows the use of its stream engine and on-chain data analytics. This will greatly assist the DeFi development community.
At this point, when asked what is important, I think it’s definitely communication with the user community. Community engagement is vital to showing the world what DePocket can do, while simultaneously optimizing its services.
8. As an adviser, do you have any advice for the development team?
Yes, my advice is simple. STICK TO THE PLAN. DePocket’s goal is to become an all-inclusive, all-in-one, one-stop-shop DeFi, GameFi and Crypto asset management & tracking solution. It sounds easy, but it isn’t (laugh).
To pursue this goal, the DePocket team must constantly be up to date, ahead of the curve, and intune with this rapidly developing market. They must be constantly updating their software, developing partnerships and collaborations. They must always aim for user retention. This means — every user who tries the DePocket app will find their assets in one place and have a seamless experience.
Of course, this is easier said than done — But the DePocket team is smart, capable, passionate, and determined. I believe in them.
