In the Age of Crypto and AI, Ditch Linear Thinking

In today’s rapidly evolving world, “decentralization” may be the buzzword—but what’s even more crucial is learning to break free from linear thinking, especially when it comes to time.

Time itself flows steadily—we’re not talking about Einstein’s theories here—but how we live through time, and what we expect from it, has shifted dramatically. Some people pour years into building a single project; others hop from token to token by the minute. Some crown themselves “top traders” before they turn twenty; others in their thirties already feel too “old” to keep up with the crypto curve.

Every time I return to speak at universities, I feel a bit out of place. Not because I lack stories—but because my journey has been anything but textbook. If students follow a predefined path step by step, they may miss the magic that comes from straying from the map. Ironically, it’s this very unpredictability that eventually led me to where I am today—at Gate.

I didn’t take my first swim until I was 29. A year later, I was diving and surfing in Australia. These days, when I’m at the beach, I’m the first one to hit the water.

At 17, I was shouting into a mic with a guitar in hand at concerts. I didn’t touch a piano until after 40, and even now, I’ve only learned one piece—Hans Zimmer’s Day One. But that’s fine. It reminds me that what matters isn't how many things we do, but how deeply we do them.

In my 40s, I picked up skateboarding again—25 years after I last rode—and filmed a clip for Gate. At 22, I published my first book and thought, “Writing is easy.” Now, writing a second feels far more daunting—and far more meaningful.

At 25, I ran a half marathon even though I hated running. Last year, I completed my first full marathon—and actually began enjoying the rhythm of long-distance running.

I grew up in a colonized region and didn’t properly speak Mandarin until I was 28. I’ve been casually learning German on Duolingo for the past decade. I recently visited Munich and realized I couldn’t string together a full sentence—but I could understand bits and pieces. That’s good enough for now. If I spend another ten years on it, maybe I’ll understand a bit more. After all, I’ve still got a few decades ahead of me.

I started learning swing dance in 2008. It’s been over ten years now. I avoid mentioning it during team calls—I’m afraid marketing might ask me to perform at the next Gate event!

Time moves linearly. But momentum, growth, and opportunity are anything but linear. Everyone has their own rhythm. Your pace won’t match someone else’s—and it shouldn’t.

When you were younger, maybe you had more free time but fewer resources. Now, with AI and open learning tools, everything’s at your fingertips. Just like in crypto: some people entered early and struck gold, but they may lack real-world resilience. Others came from tech or finance backgrounds more recently—and carved out entirely new paths in the space with the help of experience and insight.

The lesson? Respect those who came before you, but never shrink in their shadow. Welcome those who arrive after you, without condescension.

The only thing I truly envy in younger people is this: they can see a bit farther into the future than I can. But beyond that, we’re all just walking forward—one step, one leap, or one detour at a time.