Article Author: 0x9999in1

Source: ME

The Web3 strategies and layouts of publicly listed companies have become a hot topic of increasing public interest. Against this backdrop, ME officially launches the “Executive Interviews on Crypto Concept Stocks” series. We will engage with those corporate leaders who dare to lead in the wave of digital transformation, delving into their strategic layouts, business innovations, and financial innovations through the first-person perspective of decision-makers, providing forward-looking insights for industry participants.

This issue's interview guest is Li Minghong, Chief Investment Officer of MemeStrategy (2440.HK), who shares how MemeStrategy bridges the old and new economies, deeply cultivates investment tracks, and explores the potential of crypto assets with his profound traditional financial experience and keen insights into the forefront of Web3. This interview starts from the power of culture, deeply analyzing corporate strategy and personal experiences, outlining the blueprint for listed companies exploring new technologies and new economies in the Web3 era.

MEME Culture Drives Web3 Ecosystem Development

The term "MEME" in MemeStrategy leaves a deep impression. In this regard, Li Minghong elaborates on the unique role and value of MEME culture in the Web3 ecosystem. He shares: “MEME culture is a phenomenon spread through the internet, centered on imitation, secondary creation, and rapid dissemination. Whether it’s images, videos, or text, the content is usually humorous and light-hearted, evoking a smile, based on familiar movies or popular music, and spread through platforms like X, Discord, Instagram, and YouTube, resonating and continuously evolving. In the Web3 context, MEME culture thrives within blockchain technology. From celebrities like Trump to anime artists and iconic characters, everyone issues their own MEME tokens. Through public chains like Ethereum, tokens related to MEME culture are emerging one after another. Although some believe these tokens are similar to airdrop coins and lack value, we believe their value lies in the cultural core behind them. This culture spreads through young groups and open communities, becoming an important element of community building. The Web3 ecosystem achieves broad participation through MEME culture, allowing anyone to join and collaboratively create a win-win situation, bringing significant economic benefits.”

Breaking Tradition: Bridging New and Old Economies

When discussing how to accurately understand the new and old economies in the statement “MemeStrategy aims to be a trusted bridge connecting the new and old economies,” Li Minghong starts from generational differences: “The differences between the new and old economies stem from the lifestyles of different generations. I am from the post-80s generation, while the younger generation has grown up in the digital economy era, shopping and hailing rides through mobile apps, relying on digital channels for resources, which represents the new economy. The old economy is more traditional, for example, needing to go to the bank in person to open an account and fill out forms, which reflects the lifestyle of those from the 70s or 80s. Currently, we are at a turning point in the economic cycle, needing to break through tradition. The Web3 era introduces artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, and our role is to build a bridge between Web2 and Web3. Through the compliance framework of publicly listed companies, anyone can participate in our ecosystem by purchasing stocks, thus promoting the development of the new economy.”

Three Major Investment Tracks Perfectly Align with Company DNA

According to the MemeStrategy official website, MemeStrategy focuses on investing in three major future tracks: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and Culture. Li Minghong provides a detailed explanation: “Our purpose in establishing a publicly listed company is to enhance market trust in Web3. Breakthroughs in blockchain and artificial intelligence technology have transformed Hong Kong from a traditional financial center to a virtual asset center, which will increasingly rely on blockchain systems in the future, cooperating with traditional finance, especially in the field of real asset tokenization, which presents an opportunity for the integration of old and new systems. Culture is a powerful driving force that can push various industries to break through and inspire innovation. Blockchain technology has demonstrated economic benefits over the past decade, such as exchanges achieving settlement through on-chain transactions, similar to stock exchanges. Issuing tokens is akin to an IPO, and assets can be tokenized through NFTs, with payment gateways beginning to support stablecoin settlements. Artificial intelligence enhances efficiency from a data perspective, accelerating business development. Our team has established a global social platform since 2007, with 200 million users and 3 billion monthly traffic, deeply understanding the cultural preferences of the younger generation and meeting their emotional value in pursuing cultural brands. Therefore, we invest in the cultural industry, helping cultural companies upgrade and go international while integrating Web3 technology. It can be said that these three tracks perfectly align with the company's DNA.”

Extremely Optimistic About Solana Applications and Ecosystem

While numerous U.S. and Hong Kong listed companies rush to accumulate BTC and ETH, MemeStrategy “stands out” by announcing the purchase of 2,440 SOL. Li Minghong shares the strategic considerations behind the company's acquisition of SOL: “We chose SOL over BTC and ETH because Solana has made significant breakthroughs in recent years, with Solana applications covering both traditional finance and emerging fields. For example, BlackRock utilizes the Solana chain to support its $1.7 billion BUIDL fund, and platforms like PayPal and Robinhood have integrated with the Solana public chain to conduct business, supporting buying, selling, and settlement. Moreover, the MEME culture on the Solana chain is very active, aligning with our cultural strategy and showcasing broad application scenarios and long-term potential.”

When faced with the challenge of balancing traditional investors and the volatility of Web3 investments, he candidly states: “This is an ongoing exploratory topic. As new financial pioneers, we enhance market confidence through the compliance framework of publicly listed companies. The retail-driven blockchain market has become saturated, and in the future, we need to attract institutional investors and government participation. We promote Web3 development through compliant channels, and we are also exploring low-risk, high-return decentralized finance projects to create value for investors.”

Traditional Financial Veteran Re-entering Web3

When discussing his personal career, Li Minghong displays a positive attitude as a traditional financial veteran re-entering Web3. He reflects on his transformation journey: “I accumulated 13 years of experience in traditional finance, assisting state-owned enterprises in IPOs in Hong Kong and the U.S., and participating in mergers and acquisitions and wealth management. Initially, I was skeptical about Bitcoin, thinking it was unreliable. However, the opportunities brought by Bitcoin in the financial sector made me see its potential. I utilized my traditional financial experience to introduce compliance systems, ensuring the platform operates legally worldwide. Since 2018, I have devoted myself entirely to the crypto field and later began to explore decentralized finance through entrepreneurship. The compliance experience from traditional finance is crucial for Web3, especially in the context of increasing institutional investors and tightening regulations, where compliance is key to success.”

With the introduction of the “Hong Kong Digital Asset Development Policy Declaration 2.0” and the “Stablecoin Ordinance,” the policy direction and regulatory framework have become clearer. Li Minghong expresses optimism about Hong Kong's digital asset policies. He believes: “As a global financial center, Hong Kong has a conservative yet comprehensive regulatory framework. The listed companies with digital asset reserves in the U.S. have matured, and the Asia-Pacific region is catching up. Hong Kong's compliance environment provides opportunities for the development of digital assets, and in the future, it will more comprehensively support matters such as virtual asset reserves.”

Conclusion

In summary, Li Minghong, a traditional financial veteran, firmly believes that MemeStrategy will sail forward at the intersection of culture and technology with unique insights and resilient determination. From the pulse of MEME culture to innovations in artificial intelligence and blockchain, and to precise bets on the Solana ecosystem, MemeStrategy demonstrates through action the path of integration between the new and old economies. In the financial hotbed of Hong Kong, MemeStrategy, with a people-oriented approach, cultural foundation, and technological sail, outlines the infinite possibilities of the new economic era.