From Bitcoin Evangelist to AI Agent Founder: A 13-Year Snapshot of Industry Changes

An interesting industry story is emerging. According to recent sharing by 神鱼 (Cobo Co-founder), Manus founder Xiao Hong participated as an intern in related work at 壹比特 in 2013. Even more interesting is that this founder was not only an early Bitcoin holder but also a Bitcoin evangelist—he left his wallet address in a popular science article about Bitcoin written in 2013, and over 11 years, he received a total of 0.02231 BTC in tips. Today, his company Manus was acquired by Meta for approximately $2.5 billion. From the Bitcoin era to the AI Agent era, this 13-year leap itself is a history of industry evolution.

Industry Changes Seen Through Personal Trajectories

Xiao Hong’s growth path encapsulates the core features of both the crypto and AI eras. In 2013, while studying at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, he was passionate about Bitcoin—he not only held it but also actively wrote articles to popularize it—such a role was quite rare at the time. Evangelists in that era were often pure believers, exchanging article fees for Bitcoin tips.

More than a decade later, this early participant did not remain just a holder but turned to AI entrepreneurship. According to reports, Manus’s core competitiveness lies in AI Agent technology. The company has established a presence in Singapore, with standardized API interfaces and a global organizational structure. Meta’s acquisition signals a clear message: the next stage of AI competition has shifted from “talking” to “doing,” with Agents becoming a new focus for Silicon Valley giants.

Recognizing People Is More Difficult Than Recognizing Things

A key insight shared by 神鱼 is worth pondering: “Over more than ten years, from Bitcoin to AI Agents, industry forms are constantly changing; company boundaries are gradually blurring. In the early days, it was more important to identify people with ideas, execution ability, and growth potential, and to establish connections.”

This statement touches on the essence of investment and entrepreneurship. In rapidly iterating tech fields, specific tracks and products may become outdated within a few years, but founders with clear thinking, strong execution, and continuous learning ability often survive multiple cycles. Xiao Hong’s transformation from a Bitcoin evangelist to an AI entrepreneur exemplifies this—he is not a passive follower but actively embracing industry changes.

A New Model for Going Global

Manus’s success also reflects a new trend among Chinese companies going overseas. According to relevant analyses, Manus represents the third-generation overseas expansion model—not just trading or operations, but organizational restructuring. Specific manifestations include:

• Product architecture: shifting from customized solutions common domestically to standardized API interfaces
• Financing structure: using US dollar capital rather than RMB funds
• Organizational form: international teams and governance systems
• Market positioning: directly targeting top global tech companies rather than local markets

This thorough “genetic transformation” has earned Manus an entry ticket into top tech giants like Meta. In other words, Meta’s acquisition is not just about AI technology but also about a “standard component” recognized and accepted by the global industry system.

Summary

Xiao Hong’s story highlights several thought-provoking questions: First, in an era of rapid technological iteration, recognizing people is even more important than recognizing things. Second, early enthusiasm and faith (such as the Bitcoin evangelism in 2013) often serve as seeds for lasting innovation. Third, Chinese entrepreneurs’ going overseas is no longer just about market expansion but a thorough organizational restructuring and global integration. From a Bitcoin intern to an AI Agent founder, Xiao Hong has used 13 years to demonstrate what it means to “go with the trend”—not passively adapting, but finding one’s place in each era.