Author | Crypto Flight
Reporter's Notes
Hu Yilin, a former philosophy of technology professor at Tsinghua University, is a prominent thinker and veteran Bitcoin advocate in the Chinese-speaking crypto space. Our first meeting took place at last year’s Bitcoin conference in Singapore, followed by a long café chat in Geylang under the scorching sun. However, the rapid evolution of Bitcoin and broader crypto trends rendered that interview outdated before publication.
Later, I learned that Singapore’s environment convinced Hu to leave Tsinghua and relocate his family here—a move that sparked discussions in academic circles. Against the backdrop of crypto’s shifting global landscape, I revisited Singapore in February for a six-hour in-depth interview. We explored Hu’s decision to move, the role of diasporic Chinese in a deglobalizing era, Bitcoin’s potential as a monetary standard, and the tech philosophy behind it.
Life in Singapore
Flytofu: You settled here last December. How’s life in Singapore?
Hu Yilin: It’s rhythmic—morning kindergarten drop-offs, afternoons for work or leisure, evenings with family. Singapore’s stability is its strength; the climate (and policies) are predictably steady. For raising kids, this "boring reliability" beats chaotic innovation.
On Choosing Singapore Over Hong Kong:
- Hong Kong’s cramped urban sprawl felt oppressive.
- Singapore’s "garden city" design offers open greenery and friendly multiculturalism.
- Service culture here is warmer, though efficiency lags behind China’s hyper-competitive standards.
On Digital Ties to China: Apps like Xiaohongshu help maintain connections but also create a "new hometown" identity—internet natives bonded by shared platforms rather than geography.
Philosophy Meets Bitcoin
From Heidegger to Crypto
Hu’s Sunday reading group tackles Being and Time—a surprise in "culturally barren" Singapore. He argues philosophy shouldn’t be departmentalized: "Tech philosophy is just a label; real philosophy addresses existence itself."
Early Bitcoin Epiphany: While writing on media philosophy during a Bitcoin price crash (2018), Hu questioned monetary virtuality: "Isn’t fiat money the real illusion? The Fed tweaks rates, and dollars multiply or vanish."
Leaving Academia
Hu left Tsinghua not for grand ideals but practical freedom: "If AI replaces labor, what will humans do? I teach online now—headlines don’t matter."
Crypto’s Political Roots
935: Was early cryptography inherently political?
Hu Yilin: It was anti-political—a safeguard against surveillance capitalism. Tools like PGP emerged from fears of digital panopticons. When reality outpaced ideals (e.g., centralized e-money), crypto became a positive political stance.
On Internet’s Dual Nature:
- Distributed networks enable peer-to-peer freedom but also state control.
- "TCP/IP won because it was open. Soviet-style internet would’ve built a planned-economy dashboard."
Bitcoin as Monetary Reformation
Scarcity vs. Crises
Criticism: "Bitcoin’s fixed supply can’t prevent recessions!"
Hu’s View: Fiat proponents wrongly credit monetary policy for stabilizing economies. Bitcoin’s deflationary design corrects distortions:
- Gold’s flaws: Hard to verify/divide; centralized storage risks (e.g., Germany’s gold repatriation struggle).
- Bitcoin’s edge: Programmable divisibility and decentralized settlement.
Future of Bitcoin Standard:
- Layer 2 (e.g., Lightning) handles payments; mainnet becomes reserve backbone.
- "Institutions hoard coins? So do individuals. Maturity will balance liquidity."
Memecoins, TrumpCoins, and AI
On Memecoins: They’re "digital protests"—chaotic but culturally vital, like historical uprisings paired with elite theory.
Trump’s Crypto Gambit: "Free-market money means anyone can issue—even a demagogue. It democratizes currency."
AI + Crypto Synergy:
- Decentralized funding could sustain open-source AI against corporate monopolies.
- "Should AI agents use Fed-controlled money? Bitcoin is their natural choice."
FAQs
Q: Can Bitcoin’s volatility stabilize?
A: Adoption will smooth price swings; ETFs already absorb shocks.
Q: Isn’t Solana outpacing Bitcoin’s tech?
A: "Market truths trump beliefs. Memecoins reveal demand for fast chains."
Q: How can individuals shape crypto’s future?
A: "Hold coins you believe in. Use decentralized tools. Think critically."
👉 Explore Bitcoin’s potential with Hu’s Introduction to Philosophy of Technology—where freedom lies in "transcendent reflection, not just choosing noodles over rice."
Adapted from Wu Blockchain