In the rapidly evolving digital economy, crypto payments are becoming more important. AD, who heads HTX Pay Business Unit, sees Crypto payments as a top priority mission based on trust and responsibility, not just the carrier. He considers each transaction to reflect the faith and expectations of the users, and considers all technical updates as a result of the team’s tireless efforts and commitment.
After moving out of the internet industry, AD entered the crypto space with a dual mindset. Confidently apply a “seasoned” approach to business management and operations while maintaining a “student-like” passion for learning. When HTX rebooted its Crypto Payments business in late 2022, he chose to work directly on the frontline. He was closely involved with users, merchants and industry veterans, and applied his previous experience to this new landscape. He was clear from the beginning. They simply didn’t copy what others were doing. Instead, they set clear quarterly goals and repeated them based on a particular phase. “We must build a unique path based on our own context and phase,” he said. Guided by this principle, HTX Pay has completely overhauled its organizational structure, product roadmap and risk control systems, demonstrating stable and reliable growth since then.
Hearing “gun fire” on the front line
AD leadership is defined by a highly practical approach. He believes that in the “shooting” of real challenges, strategy is born at the forefront rather than at the boardroom. For him, strategic planning is not a theoretical vision of PPT slides, but a decision built on extensive market insights, direct user feedback, and granular operational details. As the proverb says, direct experience leads to true wisdom.
“If someone on our team, including myself, can’t hear the ‘gun shots’ from the frontline or can’t understand it, we’re not doing our job right,” he said.
This statement is not a warning. It is the standard for their daily work. Under his leadership, the HTX Pay team fostered a practical culture in which they remain deeply involved. This includes conducting frequent multinational meetings, regular in-depth user interviews, and including engineers and risk management staff in operational reviews. It is expected that everyone will step up and work directly on the frontline.
This close market connection also informs AD’s “non-symbiotic” business strategies. He rejects the idea of simply following an established industry model, confident in the need to “build a unique path based on a particular stage.” From the start of the HTX Pay renewal, it chose to set its own product development cadence and coordinated its resources and long-term vision, rather than blindly following industry norms.
As he says, “We are not involved in race. We are really building a sustainable and effective service system.” This simple declaration reflects a deep understanding of the long-term foundations of the crypto payments industry.
Building trust from within
The AD philosophy is simple. The true measure of product maturity is not market data but the willingness of employees to use it.
He shares frankly that HTX Pay was initially minimally recruited by staff. “The product was still in its early stages and there were some rough edges in the workflow,” he explains. Instead of pushing it to colleagues, he adopted a user-centric mindset for his team, carefully refined the entire user experience from basic workflows and transaction speeds.
Today, most HTX Pay is used daily by most HTX staff, including those who have left the company. For AD, this shift is a much stronger indicator of success than external metrics.
“It’s like running a restaurant. You need to be willing to eat the food you serve.”
He uses this powerful analogy to emphasize the importance of internal trust. It reflects his belief that a strong product must first gain the trust of the “closest user”. It serves as a test of user experience and as a reflection of the company’s culture.
This focus on internal users laid the foundation for external success. Product value is now proven in a wider market, with strong consumer retention and steadily improving the efficiency of supporting business clients. Ad’s philosophy is clear. You can’t succeed in a wider market until you first satisfy your “your own people.”
Prioritize risk control and put security above all else
AD sees Crypto payments as a financial service rather than a number game. This prevents risk control from negotiating. His position is solid. “Risk management is always a top priority.”
HTX, managed by AD, oversees the most sensitive and high-stakes portion of the trading system, including deposits and withdrawals, trading, conversions and FIAT trading. It handles the most fund flows and faces the toughest risk management requirements. AD knows well that fragile systems can’t support long-term growth, no matter how fast they expand at first.
“The real game of finance is not racing. It’s about who can last the longest and go the farthest.”
HTX Pay, led by AD, has developed an advanced risk management system. This includes an automated risk control engine, a rapid intervention system, and flexible human checks to ensure that the platform remains secure, even in the most challenging scenarios.
This is more than a crisis response mechanism. That is a fundamental part of the company’s culture. The belief that “risk control comes first” is shared across the HTX Pay team, from products, operations, technology and customer service. AD argues that all new initiatives must be carefully reviewed for risk. “We will not live with anything that does not guarantee that our users’ assets are completely safe.”
Build a solid base and win a long game
Despite the Crypto industry’s evolution at a fierce pace over the past few years, HTX Pay maintains a stable, clear rhythm. AD admits that his team once faced the question of how moving was too slow, but he continued to commit to a disciplined pace for systems development and business expansion.
He describes HTX Pay’s growth over the past three years as a “standard 40-degree curve.”
This approach is rooted in its emphasis on AD’s “infrastructure.” He believes he cannot rush to pay for the cryptocurrency. Success in this area requires critical early investments of time and resources to build a solid foundation across systems, risk control, compliance and user experience. This foundation allows businesses to handle the demands of key markets when real opportunities arrive.
HTX Pay reached a significant growth point in 2024. “We were on schedule,” Ad says. The company’s overall reputation has improved, the external environment has stabilized, and the payments business has completed a key system upgrade.
“This is not a lucky coincidence, but an inevitable outcome of a deliberate, long-term strategy,” the ad said.
For him, the ability to continue is more important than being first in the short term.
Build a trustworthy payment infrastructure for your global audience
AD consistently defines HTX Pay as a human-centered payment infrastructure. It’s not a flashy, busy gateway, but a system designed for maximum stability and absolute reliability.
According to AD, the key differences between HTX Pay and other platforms lie in their three core values: integrity, simplicity and practicality. These principles reflect his deep understanding of the needs of users and guide his product design.
“Users don’t need flashy products,” he explains. “They want a payment tool they can use, they want to be confident in their use and fully trustworthy.”
AD is fully committed to the vision of HTX. “It’s about building a financial free port for metaverse and achieving financial freedom for 8 billion people on earth.” He believes that payments businesses are not only to encourage today’s transactions, but to lay the foundation for the future. He acknowledges that this is a long-term goal and requires something beyond a single team or generation to achieve, but he believes that building infrastructure is a marathon, not a sprint.
In a rapidly changing industry, AD and his team chose the challenge but wise path: a commitment to stability, security, user-centricity and a system-first mindset. He said, “As long as everything we do respects the trust our users place on us,” he said.
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX (formerly Huobi) has evolved from virtual asset exchanges to a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investment, incubation and other businesses.
As the world’s leading gateway to Web3, HTX has global capabilities that enable users to provide secure and reliable services. Following the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Prosperity Ecosystems, Wealth Effects, Security and Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and value to virtual asset enthusiasts around the world. Visit https://www.htx.com/ or htx Square. For more information, please contact us (email protection).
