In-depth Interview with Dr. Jiang Guofei, President of YF International: How AI Engines and Web3 Infrastructure Are Reshaping the New Paradigm of Digital Finance?

Recently, Dr. Geoff Jiang, President of Cloudbreak Financial Group (Stock Code: 00376.HK) and Founder of AlphaToken, was invited by top global venture capital firm IOSG Ventures to participate in the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival, engaging in a deep dialogue with attendees about the future of digital finance. Combining his profound technical background with forward-looking financial practices, Dr. Jiang astutely outlined the paradigm shift of Web3 from the "Wild West era" to an era of "Institutionalization" and "Rule of Law."

This dialogue was not only a collision of technology and finance but also a profound reflection by Cloudbreak Financial on the new ecosystem of future asset management. The two sides engaged in an open and insightful exchange centered on the commercial essence of RWA, the convergence paradigm of AI and Web3, and the restructuring of industry profit models, jointly exploring how digital finance can transition from speculation to long-term value creation.

1. From the "Wild West" to the "Era of Rule of Law": Compliance is the Only Ticket for Institutional Entry

Moderator: At this year's carnival, the focus of discussion is no longer on the "disruption" of basic infrastructure, but on "deep integration" with the real financial system. How do you perceive this paradigm shift?

Geoff: This feeling is very profound. I believe Web3 is now undergoing a qualitative change from the "Wild West" to the "Era of Law and Order." In the early Wild West era, people might have valued breaking conventions more. But now, especially in Hong Kong, the industry is entering a new phase with rules and regulations. It's like we are laying down "railways," introducing "police," and establishing order and hierarchy in the Wild West. For Cloudbreak Financial, to truly cultivate this market, we need to navigate an extremely complex four-layer architecture. First is the access threshold, involving the compliance upgrade of Hong Kong's Type 1, 4, and 9 licenses in the digital asset space. Second is the institutional interface layer; we need to solve the pain points of fund custody and account opening with the traditional banking system, which often involves months of rigorous due diligence.

Beyond this, we also face the challenges of the technical compliance layer, including essential technical means like KYC, AML, and KYT for transaction monitoring. Finally, there is the internal control and risk management layer, which concerns security audits, organizational operation, and risk hedging when assets flow across different systems. This transformation reflects the deep integration and磨合 between Web2's institutional rigor and Web3's technical native nature.

2. The "Golden Triangle" Architecture: How Does the AI Engine Define the Future of "Digital Finance"?

Moderator: You particularly emphasized the role of AI in your discussion. In the next phase of digital finance, how exactly will AI, Data, and Web3 jointly build the industry's "moat"?

Geoff: I've always firmly believed that the future of digital finance rests on three pillars: Data, AI, and Web3. Financial decisions in the digital realm rely heavily on high-quality data from the market, providing an "Information Gap." AI is responsible for analysis and decision-making, offering a considerable "Cognition Gap." Web3 serves as the programmable settlement infrastructure at the base, enabling instant asset exchange through smart contracts and generating significant "Time Gaps" during the clearing and settlement process.

When these three elements create a chemical reaction, we can realize a highly attractive vision: creating a "dedicated AI-driven Family Office" for every ordinary person. Under traditional logic, family offices are a privilege for the very few. But in the future, with the AI engine precisely screening across billions of assets globally, combined with Web3's ultra-low cost and high-efficiency instant clearing and settlement, this professional-grade wealth management service will truly achieve financial inclusion, allowing every ordinary person to enjoy institutional-level asset allocation capabilities.

3. The Essence of RWA: The "Disintermediation" Revolution in the Financial Industry

Moderator: Dr. Jiang, you once described RWA as the "Taobao model" for the financial industry. This perspective is very vivid within the industry. How do you think it solves the challenge of the industry's profit model?

Geoff: The logic of RWA is essentially a "Direct Sales Revolution" in the financial industry. In the traditional financial chain, the circulation path of products is extremely long, with each layer of intermediaries skimming off a portion of the profit, leading to inefficiency and high costs.

RWA, leveraging Web3 technology, can achieve the "disintermediation" of financial products. It directly connects the asset source with investors through technical means, much like buying vegetables directly from the originating farmer on Taobao. This "Financial Direct Selling" enabled by Web3 technology, combined with AI's asset screening and risk penetration capabilities, allows investors to directly capture a larger share of returns from the underlying assets. Maximizing this efficiency is the core driving force for the industry to generate sustainable profits and achieve long-term success.

4. Focus on Substance: Return to Business Fundamentals and Move Beyond the Vestiges of the "Wild West"

Moderator: What is the most fundamental advice you would give to talents or institutions preparing to enter this field? The fruitful communication between both sides today has also been very enlightening for us. Could you please provide a summary?

Geoff: My core feeling is that the Wild West era is completely over. The key test now is business fundamentals, including what your product actually is, who your customers are, and whether your cash flow is sustainable. In a prudent regulatory environment like Hong Kong, truly valuable business models can actually be fostered.

In summary, the second half of Web3 is no longer a virtual game but a deep integration with the real world. Don't always think about profiting through short-term concept speculation; that model won't last. The real challenge lies in whether you can solve genuine financial pain points using technology within a compliant framework. Only those who can bridge the rigor of traditional finance, deeply understand the regulatory climate, and truly know how to leverage technological advantages to create real value will have the last laugh in the next race of digital finance. Today's dialogue has been very pleasant, and we look forward to building this regulated and value-driven new digital finance ecosystem together with industry partners.

Dr. Geoff Jiang, President of Cloudbreak Financial Group and Founder of AlphaToken (Right)

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