From Beijing to Singapore: Hu Yilin's Vision of a Bitcoin-Centric Future

The Scholar Who Bet on Bitcoin

When Hu Yilin left his prestigious position at Tsinghua University to relocate his family to Singapore, the Chinese academic community took notice. But for this philosopher-turned-cryptocurrency thinker, the move represented more than just a change of address - it was a fundamental alignment of values with what he sees as humanity’s monetary future: Bitcoin.

Singapore’s Calculated Stability

‘People ask why I chose Singapore over Hong Kong,’ Hu reflects over a cup of tea that’s rapidly cooling in the tropical heat. ‘The answer is boringly practical - like good code. Singapore offers predictable stability, which is exactly what you want when raising children… or building new economic systems.’ His analogy isn’t accidental - Hu views societal structures through the lens of their underlying protocols, whether they’re written in law or blockchain.

Philosophy Meets Finance

What makes Hu’s perspective unique is his academic background in philosophy of technology. ‘Most crypto analysts come from finance or computer science,’ he notes. ‘But understanding money requires understanding how humans create meaning - that’s fundamentally a philosophical question.’ He draws parallels between Heidegger’s concept of ‘being’ and Bitcoin’s immutable ledger: both attempt to establish an unshakable foundation in an uncertain world.

The Great Monetary Reset

Hu argues we’re witnessing not just technological disruption but a philosophical reckoning: ‘Fiat currencies represent the ultimate postmodern construct - value by decree. Bitcoin brings us back to something more classically grounded.’ His vision extends beyond price speculation to what he calls ‘monetary realism’ - treating money as what it truly is rather than what central banks claim it to be.

Practical Idealism

Despite his lofty theories, Hu remains pragmatically focused on implementation. ‘Philosophy without action is just mental masturbation,’ he says bluntly. This attitude explains his involvement with Chinese diaspora DAOs and regular blockchain literacy workshops in Singapore. ‘The future belongs to those who build it - literally, in the case of node operators.’

As our conversation winds down, Hu checks his hardware wallet with the same casual glance others might give their wristwatch. It’s a small gesture that encapsulates his worldview - where most see speculation, he sees timekeeping for a new era of human organization.