The identification of a scientist is my foundation: A conversation with Conflux founder Long Fan

On May 15, the Conflux Digital Finance and Ecological Development Conference was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Professor Long Fan, the founder of Conflux Network, reappeared in the public eye. This Tsinghua alumnus, MIT PhD, and current professor at the University of Toronto has almost faded from public view in recent years, quietly leading his team to advance Conflux as the only compliant public chain in China through technological exploration and global expansion.

In the face of the RWA craze, the Memecoin frenzy, and the accelerated development of stablecoins, the pace of the blockchain era is faster than ever. How does Conflux maintain its technical determination amidst this? As the only compliant Chinese public chain, what is the long-term thinking behind Conflux's compliant identification?

In this exclusive interview, Professor Long Fan shared for the first time his path choices, independent judgments on industry trends, and advice for young developers.

The Original Intention of Entrepreneurship and the Technical Foundation of Conflux

Professor Longfan stated that his identification is that of a computer science researcher, which can be understood as "scientist." This identification encompasses everything he has done, including being the founder of Conflux, studying at MIT, and teaching at the University of Toronto.

Regarding Conflux, Professor Long Fan stated that they have been committed to building a high-performance public chain based in China or Asia, aiming to become an important infrastructure in the era of Web 3.0. This has been the direction determined by the team since 2018, and they have been adhering to it.

On the technical side, Conflux's greatest advantage is its ability to achieve high-performance TPS without sacrificing decentralization and security. The network can support 3000-6000 TPS, and the confirmation time is also very fast. Since the mainnet launch, it has maintained zero security incidents, reflecting the stability and credibility of the architecture.

Compliance is not something "earned" but rather a combination of "long-term belief + path selection"

Professor Long Fan emphasized that Conflux becoming the only compliant public chain in China has its historical reasons. This was not fought for; rather, most teams voluntarily gave up this path due to previous regulations and policies. Conflux chose to adhere to a compliant development path, bearing high compliance costs.

The team always believes that compliance is achievable and is willing to make efforts for it, even at the cost of sacrificing some short-term benefits. They believe that in the long run, this matter holds great value. The background of the core team also encourages them to choose this path, as they believe they can persist in finding a path of normal development.

Regarding the layout of Hong Kong, Professor Long Fan believes that Hong Kong can now be understood as a "special zone" for blockchain. Hong Kong plays the role of a pilot, where various applications can operate legally without worrying about policy risks. This environment directly leads to a reduction in compliance costs. Hong Kong is in a natural policy dividend period, which is a very important opportunity window.

RWA is evolution, Memecoin is humanity: the dual survival laws of the blockchain world

Professor Long Fan believes that RWA and stablecoins are not bubbles, but rather a continuous search for new narratives in the process of the industry breaking through regulatory barriers and existing framework limitations to optimize its development path. This is an important step forward for humanity in making better use of blockchain technology.

For Memecoin, Professor Longfan believes it is a manifestation of humanity's ancient needs. Memecoin is essentially a "gambling of the crypto era," reflecting humanity's longing for risk, excitement, and uncertainty.

The Conflux team has consistently adhered to the technical route of "Asian high-performance public chain." Professor Long Fan stated that they will continue to uphold this direction. Although this path requires long-term investment and patience, he believes that this sustained effort will eventually yield returns.

For new developers entering the field, Professor Longfan advises choosing a suitable direction based on personal and team circumstances. There are two main styles: one is good at seizing short-term opportunities and quickly iterating through trial and error; the other is to choose a direction that can be invested in long-term, focusing on cultivation. Ultimately, each team must return to its own endowments and rhythm to find the path that suits them best.

The Conflux ecosystem has always had various ways to incentivize developers, and it continues to adjust and optimize. They prefer to support teams that are truly willing to land, invest, and have clear long-term plans, hoping to establish solid cooperation and promote the joint growth of the ecosystem.