"Bill It Up" Issue 36: New World New Revolution, Every Day Kismet in Cyber - Interview with Suji Yan

In Issue 36 of "Bill It Up," host Bill Qian engaged in an in-depth conversation with Suji Yan, a pioneer in the Web3 space, on the theme of "New World, New Revolution, Kismet in Cyber." Suji Yan, as the founder of Mask Network, is known for his profound influence in the realms of Decentralization, privacy protection, and digital sovereignty. This episode comprehensively explores how Web3 is reshaping the future of social media and how to find a balance between business and ideals, from Suji's personal experiences and the principles of the Cypherpunk movement to the entrepreneurial vision of Mask Network. Below is a concise summary of the core content of this episode from a media perspective.

From Social Activist to Web3 Evangelist: Suji Yan's Identity and Beliefs

Suji Yan describes himself as a "Cypherpunk immigrant". This identity not only reflects his dedication to Decentralization and digital sovereignty but also carries the historical context of the Cypherpunk movement, from crypto-hippies to figures like Satoshi Nakamoto, Assange, and Snowden. In his early years as a freelance journalist, he reported extensively on the Fukushima nuclear power plant incident and completed his first transaction using Bitcoin in 2016, realizing the revolutionary potential of cryptocurrencies. From social activism to blockchain entrepreneurship, Suji has always adhered to the belief that "cyberspace is the soil of revolution," striving to empower individuals with greater freedom and sovereignty through technology.

Cypherpunk and the Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace

In the program, Suji traced the origins of the Cypherpunk movement, highlighting the "Cypherpunk Manifesto" and the "Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace." These two declarations emphasize the revolutionary role of cryptographic tools and the independence of cyberspace, advocating for freedom from traditional government control and the construction of a new digital world based on individual sovereignty. Suji likened cyberspace to the "New World," believing it to be not just a collection of technologies but also a fertile ground for revolution, where cryptography is the "gun barrel," Bitcoin is the "money bag," and cyberspace is the "fertile soil of revolution."

Mask Network: The "United Front Work Department" of Decentralized Social Networking

Mask Network, founded by Suji, is positioned as a bridge connecting Web2 and Web3, regarded as the "united front department" of decentralized media and social networking. By integrating social and media resources, Mask Network not only promotes the development of Web3 social and SocialFi but also creates a vast ecosystem through investments and acquisitions. Suji revealed that Mask Network has acquired nearly all valuable social and media assets on the market and launched a new application, Firefly, aimed at providing users with a seamless Web3 social experience. He employs a "rural encircling the city" strategy, focusing on marginalized groups such as digital nomads, gradually breaking the monopoly of Web2 platforms.

The balance between business and ideals

Suji stated that there is a contradiction between the ideal of pursuing the "cyber revolution" and commercialization. Mask Network has achieved commercial success by investing in over a hundred projects, engaging in mergers and acquisitions, and incubating new projects (such as Firefly), while maintaining a commitment to the principle of Decentralization. He cited the growth of the East India Company and Tencent as examples, emphasizing that Mask Network aims to become the "SoftBank" or "Tencent" of cyberspace, promoting the overall development of Web3 through ecosystem building and capital operations.

The revolutionary potential of Web3 social.

Suji believes that the essential difference between Web3 social platforms and Web2 lies in their exponential growth potential. He illustrates this with the cases of Trump's Truth Social and Telegram, noting that social media can bring about significant changes in a short time, akin to the "overnight revolution" of the Paris Commune. He points out that Web2 social platforms have gradually devolved into tools for entertainment and gossip due to a lack of deep "revolutionary memory," whereas Web3 social platforms have the opportunity to reshape user sovereignty and data ownership through Decentralization technology.

Advice for young people: Fearless of failure, leave a historical echo.

At the end of the program, Suji offered advice to the younger generation: do not let geography, background, or education limit your imagination, and be brave to try, as even failures will leave echoes in history. He cited Chinese revolutionary pioneers Sun Jiarin and Sun Yat-sen as examples, emphasizing the importance of holding onto beliefs and maintaining existence, firmly believing that the revolution will eventually come.

Summary

This issue of "Bill It Up" reveals how Web3, through the perspective of Suji Yan, challenges the monopoly pattern of Web2 with decentralization, privacy protection, and digital sovereignty at its core, ushering in a "new revolution" in cyberspace. Suji's experiences and the practices of Mask Network showcase the infinite possibilities of the combination of technology and ideals, pointing the way forward for the future of Web3 social interactions. This conversation is not only a collision of ideas but also a profound inspiration for the vision of a new digital world.