From Beijing to Singapore: Hu Yilin’s Vision of a Bitcoin-Denominated World

The Leap from Academia to Crypto

Hu Yilin’s transition from a philosophy professor at Tsinghua University to a Bitcoin advocate in Singapore wasn’t just a career shift—it was a philosophical statement. “When you stop worrying about survival,” he says, “you start asking what work is truly worth doing.” For Hu, Bitcoin represents more than a financial tool; it’s a corrective to the distortions of modern capitalism.

The Philosophy Behind the Move

Rooted in Heideggerian thought and influenced by Kant, Hu views Bitcoin as a return to “being”—a monetary system that aligns with human nature rather than bureaucratic manipulation. “Gold was limited by physics,” he explains. “Bitcoin is limited by math. Both are honest.”

Why Singapore?

Singapore’s stability appealed to Hu as both a parent and a thinker. “It’s boringly predictable here—perfect for raising kids and contemplating monetary revolution,” he quips. The city-state’s blend of Eastern pragmatism and Western innovation mirrors his vision for crypto: rooted in tradition but unbounded by borders.

Bitcoin as Cultural Revival

Hu sees Bitcoin not just as currency but as a vehicle for cultural preservation. “The West homogenized through colonialism,” he argues. “Blockchain lets communities set their own rules without begging central banks for permission.” His “Chinese DAO” project aims to digitally safeguard traditions increasingly suppressed in mainland China.

The Future: Beyond Speculation

While acknowledging crypto’s current meme-coin absurdities (“TrumpCoin is performance art”), Hu believes we’re transitioning from gold-rush chaos to serious nation-building on blockchain. “Ethereum tried governing too soon,” he observes. “True decentralization needs more anarchy before order emerges naturally.”

His final advice? “Buy Bitcoin, read philosophy, and remember: code isn’t law—it’s just the least corruptible clerk we’ve ever invented.”