As CEO of BTSE since 2022, a centralised exchange that offers a wide range of products and services for the convenience of both end-users and institutions, Henry is a key builder in the crypto space. 

He developed an interest in cryptographic hardware, working with hardware devices and encryption for privacy. Simultaneously, on the software side of things, he was building a global payment aggregator and service to allow people to transact in niche markets that a service like PayPal couldn’t reach. The customers back then wanted to transact in cryptocurrencies such as USDT and Bitcoin and that was how Henry went down the rabbit hole of Web3. 

That exposure led him to delve deeper into various crypto communities and eventually, he got very involved with MaidSafe, a project with a huge ambition to provide security and privacy for everyone on the planet. 

What was Henry’s first impression of ARC? 

Henry’s first encounter with ARC occurred at a dinner that he hosted in Singapore post-COVID. It was there that Gabriel Yang, our deputy CEO, introduced ARC to him. Henry described it as a “grand vision” because of the timing of the launch, particularly post-NFT hype. 

“These guys, in order to make it, are really gonna have to do something different and tear through people’s connotations of Web3 communities and I was like, yeah, most people probably aren’t gonna make it [in that period]. But this group, yeah, you guys got something going.”

It was also due to COVID, that he found it challenging to reconnect with Web3 folks offline but saw that ARC could serve as a platform for connecting with people in Asia. Since then, Henry has described his ARC experience as “invaluable”. He appreciates the depth and meaningfulness of ARC events, both online and in-person and that is attributed to the curation and thought put into these events. 

How does Henry see himself contributing to ARC and vice versa?

Henry sees opportunities for mutual growth and contribution within ARC. While he hopes to give back to the community more than he takes, he sees ARC helping BTSE build a recognisable brand that people can trust, and have a good experience using.

With BTSE having been around for more than 5 years, focusing primarily on B2B services, the exchange has been expanding outwards for the last 2 years by growing its brand and presence in the space. The company has been rapidly expanding in size, looking to hire over a hundred new team members and Henry sees ARC playing a part in helping BTSE get there.

“The best people to connect a job and an opportunity is always through a circle of friends and referral.”

Through the curation of ARC members, he sees ARC “investing in people”, and that will be able to help him find the best people to recruit. He hopes to provide value for members in terms of jobs within the community, and also providing members with access to some of the most exclusive assets due to the nature of the business.

Why should anyone join ARC? 

Henry sees ARC as a very unique project because of the diverse community.

“How many communities out there do we see people that have this wide of a range of backgrounds where they’re able to bring all this value and experience to you?”

He also compliments ARC as a “unique team” that sets us apart from a typical Web3 community that heavily relies on the crypto background of the founders.

“[The community] is part of your DNA. People are not just attracted to the brand but to the people providing value from top down.”

Henry feels that ARC is undervalued for its mint price, having personally gained “30x” the value. He even suggests that ARC’s mint price should be raised.

What will Henry be up to during Taipei Blockchain Week? 

Henry will be hosting the official after-party of Taipei Blockchain Week that will be “Taiwan Night Market” themed as a fun way to express the local Taiwan culture. 

BTSE is also the title sponsor for Sora Summit which will cover topics such as “Bitcoin Utility”, “Decentralised Science”, Cryptography & Encryption”, and “NFT Utility”.

Editor’s Note: 

Henry has been a huge supporter of ARC’s initiatives, being a partner for our annual IntoTheARC party for 2 years in a row now! He has also been very gracious in offering his resources and time being one of our key go-to people for any Stellars in Taipei!

Thank you Henry!