Key Takeaways
- Eric Chen is the CEO and co-founder of Injective Protocol, holding a BS and a Bachelor’s in Finance from NYU.
- Eric began his career in research and analysis at Huizhou Desay Sv Automotive and Sino Partners Fund, focusing on market analysis and algorithmic trading.
- Chen became interested in blockchain and crypto by mining Bitcoin in high school and later worked with NYU Blockchain Labs on blockchain projects and research.
Who Is Eric Chen?
Eric Chen is the CEO and co-founder of Injective Protocol. Before founding Injective, he worked as an innovative capital researcher focusing on trading strategies and protocol research. Eric earned a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Finance from New York University.
Early Career
Chen started his professional journey as a research fellow at Huizhou Desay Sv Automotive Co., Ltd. in the summer of 2014, working from June to August. During this time, he gained useful experience in research and analysis, especially in the automotive industry. This early job helped him build problem-solving skills that would be important in his future career in finance and technology.
Financial Sector Experience
In 2014, Chen joined the Sino Partners Fund for three months, working on risk analysis and algorithmic trading. This role gave him a strong understanding of financial markets and trading strategies. His time at Sino Partners Fund was necessary for improving his skills in market analysis, which later shaped his work in decentralized finance.
Mutual Fund Development
From December 2016 to January 2017, Chen worked as a researcher at Essence Fund Management in China. In this role, he helped develop mutual fund products, contributing to the company’s efforts to create investment products that met market needs. This experience improved his knowledge of traditional finance and his ability to examine financial products from a technical and business perspective.
Research and Strategy at Innovating Capital
Chen continued to grow his knowledge in finance and technology by joining Innovating Capital as a researcher from September 2017 to October 2018. He focused on studying trading strategies and protocols working on new solutions to solve problems in the investment field. His work at Innovating Capital helped him better understand how finance, technology, and innovation come together.
NYU Blockchain Labs
In addition to his work at Innovating Capital, Chen was actively involved with NYU Blockchain Labs, where he learned much about blockchain technology and its uses. He worked as an analyst and a researcher, focusing on decentralized systems. His time at the labs gave him a better understanding of blockchain, which later played a key role in his entrepreneurial projects.
Early Involvement In Cryptocurrency
Eric Chen’s interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain started in high school when he first mined Bitcoin around 2012. His involvement in the crypto industry grew in 2017 when he began working on public projects and collaborating with developers to improve the space.
Co-Founding Injective Protocol
After working as a researcher at NYU Blockchain Labs and Innovating Capital, Eric co-founded Injective Protocol in 2018 with Albert Chon. The project aimed to improve decentralized finance (DeFi) by fixing issues like slow speeds, low liquidity, and bad user experience. Eric wanted the Injective Protocol to make decentralized exchanges (DEX) as good as centralized exchanges (CEX), closing the gap between the two.
Injective Protocol’s Future Developments
Under Eric’s leadership, Injective Protocol adds new features like cross-chain compatibility, better security, and improved scalability. The platform is focused on creating an easy-to-use system for DeFi users. A recent upgrade includes approving an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) for Injective, making it more accessible, and connecting it to traditional finance.
Vision For The Future of DeFi and Blockchain
Eric Chen is focused on the future of decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain. He wants to create a fairer, more efficient, open financial system. Eric believes that blockchain can change traditional finance by solving issues in DeFi, like speed, liquidity, and ease of use.
Focus on Community and Ecosystem Growth
Eric is focused on building a strong and active community around the Injective Protocol. He knows that the success of any blockchain project relies on its community, so he values teamwork, open communication, and giving people a chance to help shape the platform. His leadership at Injective has helped create a loyal group of developers, users, and investors who believe in a decentralized future.
Final Thoughts
Eric Chen’s journey from working in finance to co-founding Injective Protocol shows his deep understanding of traditional finance and blockchain. His early interest in cryptocurrency and experience in finance helped shape his goal to improve decentralized finance. Under his leadership, Injective Protocol is making DeFi better and easier to use. Eric’s focus on building a strong community shows his commitment to creating a fair and accessible decentralized future for everyone.
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