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

The Leap to Singapore

Hu Yilin’s decision to leave his prestigious position at Tsinghua University and relocate to Singapore wasn’t made lightly. “Shanghai’s lockdown was a turning point,” he explains. “While I remain optimistic about China’s long-term development, having a child changes your perspective on stability.”

Singapore’s predictable climate—both meteorological and political—offered the “boring stability” ideal for raising a family. Unlike Hong Kong’s oppressive urban landscape, Singapore’s garden city design provides open spaces and greenery that foster a healthier environment for growth.

Philosophy Meets Cryptocurrency

Hu’s academic background in philosophy informs his approach to Bitcoin. He rejects simplified explanations, arguing that true understanding comes from grappling with complex texts directly. “Philosophy books are like sugarcane,” he says. “Introductory texts are just the chewed-up remains—you need to taste the raw material yourself.”

This intellectual rigor led him to Bitcoin during its 2011 price crash. Applying media philosophy concepts, he recognized that money’s value lies not in physical backing but in its function as a transaction medium. “In some ways,” he notes wryly, “Bitcoin is more real than dollars—at least you can count how many exist.”

The Case for Bitcoin Standard

Hu presents a compelling argument for Bitcoin as global reserve currency:

1. Predictable Supply: Unlike gold or fiat, Bitcoin’s issuance schedule is mathematically predetermined
2. Decentralized Control: No single entity can manipulate the supply like central banks do with fiat
3. Technological Neutrality: Its digital nature makes it borderless and censorship-resistant

“Bitcoin isn’t just an investment,” Hu emphasizes. “It’s a philosophical statement about human freedom in the digital age.”

Challenges Ahead

The path to widespread adoption faces obstacles:

• Regulatory pushback from nation-states
• Technical limitations around scalability
• Cultural inertia favoring traditional finance

Yet Hu remains optimistic: “Every revolutionary technology faces skepticism initially. What matters is whether the underlying idea is sound—and Bitcoin’s foundations are rock solid.”

Life After Academia

Now settled in Singapore, Hu continues his intellectual pursuits through reading groups on Heidegger and Stiegler while engaging with the global crypto community. His story exemplifies the growing trend of knowledge workers opting out of traditional systems to build alternative futures.

As he puts it: “When basic needs are met, the real question becomes: what work is worth doing? For me, that means contributing to systems that expand human freedom rather than constrain it.”