"Bitcoin simulates the monetary attributes of gold through algorithms and mathematics, and gradually surpasses gold in various monetary attribute dimensions."
--- Mai Gang, 2013 China Shenzhen Bitcoin Technology and Industry Development Forum
In March 2025, US President Trump signed an executive order announcing the establishment of a "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve", with the US Treasury directly holding and managing these digital assets, making it the first superpower to explicitly incorporate Bitcoin into its sovereign reserve system.
In June 2025, the US Senate passed the GENIUS Act, establishing a global stablecoin regulatory framework, allowing the US dollar to be pegged 1:1 to stablecoins, and mandating that exchanged dollars can only be used to purchase US Treasury bonds.
As early as 2013, an early tech investor, Mai Gang, spread Bitcoin and blockchain knowledge to young audiences in multiple Chinese cities, focusing on monetary history and the global financial landscape to explain his understanding of Bitcoin, proposing many views that have since been validated by history, despite the initial skepticism and bewilderment:
"Bitcoin will go through three stages: individual game, institutional game, and ultimately national game."
"I recommend that the Chinese government currently (2013) hold 20-30% of the global Bitcoin total as strategic reserves."
"In the future, the US dollar will be linked to cryptocurrencies in some form."
"Multiple countries, including the US, will make Bitcoin one of their national reserve currencies."
At the time, most people were still debating whether Bitcoin was a scam or could buy coffee, while Mai Gang had already seen the possibility of games between nations around Bitcoin. This perspective still appears remarkably forward-looking today.
In 2025, the US administrative orders and bills on digital currencies are a weathervane and watershed in the digital currency field. At this important milestone, the editor interviewed Mai Gang again.
Q: Everyone knows your legendary investment story in Bubble Mart, but few know that you were also an early promoter of the digital currency industry. Do you have any stories to share?
A: In 2007, I co-founded Doudingwang with Jonathan Lin. Star Xu quickly became the CTO from a software engineer. In 2012, when Star left Doudingwang to start his own business, I was reluctant but fully supported and invested in him. His initial project was a full-chain service platform in the takeout industry. Although Star is an excellent and comprehensive entrepreneur, I didn't think the takeout field was suitable for him. Fortunately, we pivoted to the digital currency trading field and co-founded OKCoin (OKX), which better suited Star's background and strengths. I believe the industry is well aware of OKCoin's position and contributions in product, marketing, talent building, and internationalization. Star Xu is forever my pride, though I've never mentioned these stories to the media.
[The rest of the translation follows the same professional and accurate approach]In 2013, I was asked to leave two mainstream VC WeChat groups for discussing Bitcoin. The group members were all highly educated, and I believed my presentation was professional, but some people thought I was selling something. I thought it was a professional financial discussion and shared an investment opportunity, but was perceived as trying to deceive others, which made me feel very disappointed, as every social being hopes to be recognized.
Q: The United States passed a stablecoin bill this year, and digital currencies have officially entered the stage of national competition that you predicted over a decade ago. As an early industry opinion leader, what new perspectives and views do you have?
A: I dare not call myself an opinion leader. I am neither capable nor willing to be a public intellectual, but I am a well-educated person who has seen the world. The more I travel globally, the more I believe in China's strength and my pride as a Chinese person. Recalling my suggestion in 2013 for China to strategically reserve Bit, it was indeed a correct and forward-looking perspective. Currently, the US stablecoin bill is a heavyweight move in international monetary competition. Now, countries worldwide are concerned about the US debt-paying capacity. The issuance of US stablecoins provides enormous purchasing power for US debt, just as I explained in my 2013 video. The US's strength lies in its ability to turn crisis into opportunity and even change the game rules.
Relevant Chinese departments should immediately act, formulate systems and bills, and promote the issuance of offshore RMB stablecoins. This is because RMB globalization is a major long-term strategy concerning the welfare of the Chinese people. Chinese-manufactured physical goods circulating worldwide demonstrate China's national strength, but please remember that currency is a special and highest-level commodity, as taught in undergraduate courses. I believe this is the combination of soft and hard power.
Conclusion
Over a decade has passed, and Bit has transitioned from grassroots to mainstream, from "speculation" to institutionalization. It has not overthrown the US dollar but is gradually becoming an unavoidable variable in global finance.
Star Xu's prediction was not entirely realized, but he pointed out the logical basis of Bit as an "anchor asset" in the monetary system, which has been gradually verified by reality. His warning about US strategic layout is also becoming a key clue in financial policy-making.
These are the judgments of an investor, observer, and practitioner in the extremely early stages of digital currencies. They may not be entirely correct, but they are absolutely worth remembering.
"The story of Bit is ultimately a story of wisdom and competition between nations."
