Original | Odaily Planet Daily ( @OdailyChina )
Author | Fu Howe ( @vincent 31515173 )
After the US election ended with Trumps victory, the crypto industry was greatly encouraged. Bitcoin once broke through 93,000 USDT, constantly setting new historical highs. The Meme sector is also hot. However, high returns are often accompanied by high risks. How to confirm the market trend and establish a bull market trading strategy when the market is good has become the top priority at present.
Coinciding with the Devcon event in Thailand, Odaily Planet Daily had the honor of interviewing Gate.io CBO Kevin Lee offline, and had an in-depth conversation around industry development trends, the platforms strategic planning, and the future prospects of the crypto market.
The following is the content of the interview.
Odaily Planet Daily: What observations or highlights are worth sharing in recent offline events? Have these experiences given you a new understanding of future market trends?
Kevin: This year we not only participated in many offline events, but also held many of them ourselves. I think the current market atmosphere is very good. Compared with before, my biggest feeling is the difference between online and offline. Online may be dominated by meme voices, while offline allows people to feel a more diverse ecosystem and see many different innovative directions being explored. For example, many teams are working hard on the technical development of L1 and L2, payment platforms, and even Web3 games.
Teams whose voices may not be loud enough online have demonstrated very good results offline. The overall feeling is that a hundred flowers bloom. This atmosphere reminds me of the prosperity of the last bull market. Although the specific form is different, the current environment is still full of hope.
During the on-site communication, everyone was very positive. Although we did not focus on the price issue during the communication, judging from the rhythm and atmosphere, everyone was generally optimistic. Of course, there are still some uncertainties in the future. For example, after the US presidential election, the policies of the new government may have a significant impact on the industry. Although the implementation of policies takes time and will not be fully implemented in the short term, we need to continue to pay attention to the volatility that policies may bring. This is an important inspiration I got from this offline event.
Odaily Planet Daily: Bitcoin has been breaking new highs recently, and market sentiment is high. What do you think is the reason for this rise in prices? Can such a market continue?
Kevin: This is a very good question. We have also observed that Gate.ios trading volume has been very high recently, especially Bitcoins performance is particularly outstanding. Bitcoin is undoubtedly the main driving force behind this wave of market increases, and the gains of other assets are mostly following the upward trend of Bitcoin.
However, I think there are certain risks here. The fundamentals of different projects vary greatly. We need to analyze the value source of each project in detail, and we cannot simply assume that if Bitcoin rises, other assets will also continue to rise. This idea may cover up some potential risks.
There is indeed some speculation in the market at present, and many people seem to hold the mentality of invest today and the price will rise tomorrow. We need to be particularly vigilant against this irrational emotion. Therefore, in the next market analysis, we need to return to the fundamentals and use a more rational way to evaluate the long-term value of the project, rather than just being swayed by market sentiment. This is actually a core point we often emphasize.
Odaily Planet Daily: Facing the new round of market conditions, in which areas does Gate.io plan to focus its layout? Will it launch activities targeting new users or specific markets? What new initiatives does Gate.io currently have in terms of innovative products and user experience to better attract and retain users?
Kevin: As mentioned before, the current market volatility is very strong, so our depth optimization in the spot market and contract market is the current priority. For users, liquidity and depth are the most important, and we will continue to work hard to improve performance in these areas.
As for trading activities, we have been carrying them out and will continue to launch more incentive activities to support user transactions, such as trading rebates, rewards, etc. Users can follow our official website and information platform to obtain the latest event information.
In terms of innovative products and user experience, we recently launched an Innovation Zone. This is a sector classification mechanism similar to the stock market, which separates relatively higher-risk and high-potential currencies. In this sector, users can trade newer currencies to meet their needs for asset diversity.
Odaily Planet Daily: Why launch the “Innovation Zone”?
Kevin: First of all, as a trading platform, our goal is to provide users with the most abundant currency choices. But at the same time, we also have to ensure the transaction security of the project. Therefore, the establishment of the Innovation Zone is to balance the needs of both sides. On the one hand, it satisfies users interest in emerging assets, and on the other hand, it makes users more rational and prudent when participating by clearly indicating risks. This model is similar to the main board and GEM of the traditional stock market. We observe new projects in the Innovation Zone, and once the project is stable and mature, it can be transferred to the main board for trading. This approach can protect the interests of users and is conducive to the long-term development of the project.
Odaily Planet Daily: How is the innovation zone performing?
Kevin: At present, the Innovation Zone is very popular and has a very large trading volume. This plate classification model distinguishes us from other trading platforms. Other platforms may directly list all currencies on the main board, which may easily lead to some projects being quickly eliminated by the market. However, through a gradual transition, we not only improve the stability of the project, but also protect the interests of users. This is an approach that we highly recognize. In the future, we will continue to optimize this mechanism and launch more new features on this basis to help users better participate in the market and provide project parties with a broader development space.
Odaily Planet Daily: In the current bull market, meme coins are highly sought after. How does Gate.io balance hot projects with long-term value while attracting users, and ensure the security of the platform and the interests of users?
Kevin: At Gate.io, we always follow strict listing standards and will not blindly act aggressively because of market trends. The performance of meme coins in this round of bull market is indeed impressive, but we pay more attention to the long-term value of the project and user needs.
Our coin listing evaluation criteria include team background, technical strength, community support, trading volume potential and other dimensions. In addition, the coin listing process is not ended once it is launched, but runs through the entire project life cycle. After the launch, we will continue to monitor transaction data, pay special attention to abnormal fluctuations in the short term, and immediately intervene in the investigation if any problems are found to ensure the security of the platform and the interests of users.
At the same time, as a platform with the goal of Gateway to Crypto, we hope to provide users with the opportunity to access a variety of currencies, but we will also conduct in-depth due diligence on the project parties to ensure the safety of user assets. To this end, we have also set up a special innovation zone so that users can choose to access newer but higher-risk currencies and decide whether to participate.
Of course, we cannot predict which projects have the greatest potential, but our responsibility is to provide screened options and create a safe and reliable investment environment for users. It is worth mentioning that due to the large number of projects listed, some due diligence processes cannot be fully automated, so we are very grateful to the project parties for their patience in the process and their trust and support for us.
Odaily Planet Daily: In your opinion, what is the core value of meme coins? How does Gate.io determine whether a meme coin is worth listing?
Kevin: The core of meme coins lies in cultural consensus. A true meme comes from the inside out, and it can resonate with people from different backgrounds and cultures. For example, Stephen Chows movies can make people from different regions smile knowingly. This cultural connection is the charm of memes.
But we also found that there are many projects in the current market that are forcibly creating memes, such as randomly drawing an animal head or giving a seemingly funny name and claiming it to be a meme coin. I think such projects without internal consensus support are unsustainable.
When judging whether a meme coin is worth listing, we will comprehensively consider its community foundation, market demand, and whether it can truly resonate widely with users, rather than just being a short-term hype hotspot.
The future development of meme coins will definitely be differentiated. Some projects may be gradually eliminated by the market because they have no actual value, but meme coins that truly have cultural consensus and can bring fun to users will still have great potential.
Gate.io will continue to pay attention to such projects, but our listing standards will not change due to market trends. We hope to provide users with truly valuable projects through strict screening and promote the healthy development of the industry.
Odaily Planet Daily: What new progress has Gate.io made in recent business cooperation and global layout? What is the future development direction?
Kevin: We have made significant progress in business cooperation and global layout. This year, we have established a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Blockchain Centre and the TON ecosystem to invest in innovative projects with potential through Gate Ventures. These investments are not limited to the Web3 industry, but also cover surrounding industries such as hardware and basic network fields. We hope to promote the development of the industry through all-round investment.
In addition, the Middle East is our focus for the future. The Middle East, especially the UAE, is becoming a gathering place for global talent and capital with its open regulatory policies, superior geographical location and. We have established a strong foundation in the Asian market, and the Middle East will become a bridge for us to expand into the European and American markets, helping to achieve a global layout.
At the strategic level, we will continue to optimize the depth and breadth of the market and improve the liquidity of the spot and contract markets. At the same time, we will continue to maintain close communication with local regulators to ensure that the platform can respond to the latest regulatory requirements and maintain compliance and flexibility.
Finally, the user community remains the core of our development. In the future, we will continue to hold more offline events to establish more direct connections with users and listen to their feedback in order to better meet their needs and promote the continuous progress and innovation of Gate.io.
Odaily Planet Daily: How do you view the integration of the crypto industry and traditional finance? In what areas may this integration bring greater breakthroughs and benefits in the future?
Kevin: The integration potential between the crypto industry and traditional finance is huge, which can be viewed from several aspects:
1. Integration as an investment tool
Currently, the application of the crypto industry in the traditional financial system is mainly as an investment tool, such as the launch of Bitcoin ETFs. The significance of these products is to introduce crypto assets into traditional investment portfolios, especially retirement accounts (such as the 401k plan in the United States). This layout is very important for the long-term growth of the industry. However, the current actions of traditional finance are still relatively conservative and have not been able to enter the crypto-native market on a large scale. This delay in capital inflow has also led to a lack of sufficient endogenous motivation in the crypto industry itself.
2. Technical integration
Traditional financial institutions have shown great interest in blockchain technology. For example, JP Morgan has built its own blockchain network to improve transaction liquidity and efficiency. This shows that although the market size of crypto assets has not yet reached the core position of traditional finance, blockchain technology has become an important tool for improving the quality of financial services. Innovation at this level is gradually changing the way traditional finance operates.
3. Future breakthroughs and benefits:
In the future, as the crypto industry’s technology is further integrated with traditional financial tools, the following breakthroughs may occur:
● Cross-use of assets: Investors can use traditional financial assets such as stocks and bonds as collateral to borrow crypto assets for investment, and vice versa. This two-way integration can improve market liquidity, lower transaction barriers, and create higher capital utilization.
● Cross-border investment facilitation: By using blockchain technology, the crypto industry can significantly reduce the procedures and costs of cross-border investment. For example, investors can directly purchase global stocks or bonds through crypto assets, greatly improving investment efficiency.
● The birth of a new ecology: The real breakthrough in the industry may come from the unknown. Just like the sudden outbreak of NFT in 2020, the next round of growth may come from technologies or applications that have not been widely discussed. This unknown is the driving force for continuous innovation in the industry.
Odaily Planet Daily: In the face of possible drastic market fluctuations, what suggestions do you have for users, especially ordinary investors?
Kevin: For this question, I would like to start from a broader perspective, not just from the perspective of the crypto industry, but also combine my many years of experience in the traditional financial industry to give you some generally applicable suggestions:
1. Assess your risk tolerance
First of all, whether it is crypto investment or other assets, everyone needs to be clear about their risk tolerance. Especially in the current market volatility, any long or short operations need to be cautious. If you cant bear greater risks, it is best to avoid high leverage operations, or simply dont participate in short-term trading excessively.
2. Fund allocation should be reasonable
The funds you invest should be your spare money, that is, money that does not affect your daily life and does not prevent you from dealing with unexpected expenses. If your investment funds come from your daily necessities, once the market fluctuates sharply, you may be forced to sell your assets at a low price, thus falling into a dilemma.
3. Pay attention to the particularities of the crypto market
The crypto market is traded 24 hours a day, which means that when you are sleeping, the market is also running, and any unexpected situation may happen. Therefore, you must be mentally prepared enough, or make good use of some automated tools to manage your investment.
4. Make good use of risk management tools
There are many excellent investment tools on Gate.io, such as Stop Loss or Limit Order. These tools can help you control risks when the market fluctuates violently, avoid frequent operations due to excessive tension, and make you feel more at ease when you sleep. For example, portfolio diversification is also a very effective way to help you spread your risks across different asset classes.
5. Learn more and understand more
If you are a beginner, it is recommended to spend more time to understand the market rules and how to use the tools. Some tools may seem complicated, but once you learn how to use them, they can protect your funds at critical moments. For example, learning how to set a reasonable stop loss point or how to adjust the leverage ratio will greatly help improve your investment stability.
