In China's internet landscape, Meituan founder Wang Xing is a unique presence. He appears low-key, speaks little, like a calm chess player, carving out a path in the bloody sea of O2O. However, beneath this calm lies an extremely proud heart.
Regarding predecessors like Ma Huateng and Jack Ma, Wang Xing perhaps has not completely 'submitted' in his heart. He seems to always have a belief: if time and space intertwined, he could stand in that wind tunnel, in that position, and write the story of Tencent and Alibaba himself. This is a kind of confidence of a top entrepreneur, as well as a kind of ambition that says 'who else but me.'
However, in the heart of this fighter who almost never looks up to his peers, there exists a 'god'-like presence, a peak he candidly admits he can never reach—Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. Wang Xing believes that creating the Meituan empire may require extreme business insight and iron-fisted execution, but creating Bitcoin requires a near-divine and genius-level talent that he does not possess.
Believer in Action: A 'Tribute' as Early as 2013
Wang Xing's attention to Bitcoin predates its rise as a darling of the global financial market. As early as 2013, when most people were still confused by this new term, Wang Xing solemnly declared on Fanfou:
“I also have Bitcoin. I must show my respect for this extraordinarily imaginative creation with practical actions.”
This statement reveals his original intention for entering the game. This is not a speculation; it is a pilgrimage. He bought Bitcoin not for wealth appreciation, but to pay tribute to an ideology he admires and a 'creation that is destined to be recorded in the history of human civilization.' In the same year, when the central bank imposed strict regulations and the market was in despair, Wang Xing remained optimistic. The subsequent historical developments perfectly validated his foresight.
Beyond Finance: A Game of Politics and Philosophy
In Wang Xing's eyes, merely viewing Bitcoin as a digital currency is a great shortsightedness. He keenly pointed out:
“Bitcoin is very interesting. I think of it as an exciting game, a game that can change the financial landscape.” He further clarified its essence: “The political attributes of Bitcoin far outweigh its financial attributes.”
This insight completely distinguishes him from a group of speculators who only focus on candlestick charts. He sees not the fluctuations of prices, but the impact of a brand new, decentralized power structure on the existing sovereign credit system. He predicted: 'It is expected that soon there will be a new type of person on the Forbes list, whose wealth comes not from any industry, but from: buying and holding a batch of Bitcoin.' This is not only a prediction of its wealth effect but also a confirmation of its disruptive nature.
The Only Idol: The Ultimate Myth of Tech Enthusiasts
Wang Xing's admiration for Satoshi Nakamoto borders on hero worship. He once quoted a friend's words, vividly depicting Nakamoto's mystery and greatness:
“A friend said that Satoshi Nakamoto, the inventor of Bitcoin, is definitely the ultimate idol for tech enthusiasts. He has succeeded in achieving what Cui Jian sang in (The Pretender): I want people to see me, but not know who I am.”
In Wang Xing's view, Satoshi Nakamoto's wisdom is worthy of a Nobel Prize in Economics. His widely circulated comment—'Theoretically, Satoshi Nakamoto is already the richest person in the world. This world is painfully real'—is filled with shock and admiration for the immense power contained in this great creation.
Historical Coordinates: The Greatest Invention After the Internet
Wang Xing is accustomed to examining things in the grand historical coordinates. When a friend suggested, 'Bitcoin is the greatest invention since the invention of the internet,' Wang Xing deeply agreed.
This positioning means that Bitcoin is not just a technology or a product, but the beginning of a new era. It represents a completely new mode of collaboration and trust mechanism, and its far-reaching impact will be on par with the internet revolution.
Furthermore, Wang Xing has viewed Bitcoin from the grand perspective of geopolitics, believing it to be a 'heaven-sent opportunity' for China to challenge the dollar's dominance. He believes that shaking the dollar's hegemony within the traditional financial framework is almost impossible, while Bitcoin's new, asymmetrical path provides a once-in-a-lifetime strategic opportunity for reshaping the landscape.
Conclusion: The Symphony of Idealism and Geopolitical Vision
Looking at Wang Xing's remarks over the past decade, his position on Bitcoin is a perfect combination of technological idealism and geopolitical vision.
He can be a pure technological believer, excited by the 'extraordinary imagination' presented by Bitcoin's underlying technology; he can also be a calm strategist, insightful about its disruptive potential on the global financial power structure. His views far surpass those of his contemporaries and he consistently aligns words with actions—by holding real investments early on, expressing long-term confidence that transcends cycles.
In Wang Xing's world, he is confident in conquering the peaks of business, but only the digital peak created out of thin air by Satoshi Nakamoto, built on code and consensus, makes him willingly look up. This may be the most honest tribute from this internally proud fighter to himself and to this world.