From visionaries to venture-backed, BTB’s series goes inside the minds shaping tomorrow’s economy. We speak to the founders, funders, and trailblazers reimagining value, not just through balance sheets, but cultural influence. What drives them? What are their insights on key industry trends? And what separates conviction from noise? Find out below.

Before becoming one of the world’s most recognisable interpreters of Web3, Dennis Liu built a hybrid career spanning blockchain development, venture investing and mass-audience education. Known online as VirtualBacon, he’s grown from an engineering student mining Dogecoin in his dorm room into a creator trusted for making crypto intelligible. Today, he serves as General Partner at Momentum 6, a crypto-native venture capital and venture-building firm backing early-stage Web3 startups across infrastructure, gaming and decentralised applications. But his real influence stems from something rarer in this space: consistency in an industry built on hype.

Speaking on Beyond the Boardroom‘s Founders & Funders, Liu opens up about the countercultural principle that’s defined his work. “For me, it’s always about focusing on what the audience can genuinely benefit from,” he says. Whilst creators around him chased trends or recalibrated narratives with every market swing, he’s chosen to stay anchored. “Too many creators chase views or flip narratives based on market waves, which only confuses people. I try to stay calm and consistent with my message. If you’re committed to a sector, stick with it for the long term.” That steadiness has become his calling card, and it’s what keeps audiences coming back.

The conversation also explores why Asia now leads not just in crypto adoption but in digital culture itself. Liu is adamant that the West still doesn’t fully grasp what drives the region’s dominance. “The West often underestimates how mobile-first Asia really is,” he says. “In APAC, most people have a phone but may not own a personal computer. That shifts everything—product design, onboarding, and user experience.” For him, this isn’t merely a technical difference; it’s the reason Asia built platforms that feel social, seamless and intuitive, the cultural foundation behind the region’s scale. Understanding that distinction, he argues, is critical for anyone hoping to build globally.

Liu also reflects on what the NFT boom and bust revealed about where real value resides in Web3. “The survivors are the ones with die-hard communities—teams that never abandoned their holders and kept building,” he says. Pudgy Penguins, once dismissed and later revitalised, exemplify this exactly. “Utility matters, both for collectability and social engagement. Treat NFTs like real companies. Community, brand, and revenue models matter more than hype.” He sees this as the maturing of Web3, a generational shift from speculation to brand-driven loyalty. The projects that endure, he believes, are the ones that understood culture wasn’t a marketing trick but foundational infrastructure.

That conviction runs through everything Liu talks about. For him, culture sits at the centre of adoption. “Culture is everything,” he says. “A strong, recognisable brand makes it easier for people to share and onboard friends.” Memes, identity and social rituals aren’t frivolous; they’re the scaffolding that makes technology accessible. “Memes lower the barrier to entry, but behind the fun there has to be real value. The best projects use culture as the gateway, then back it up with substance.” In his view, the next wave of winners will treat culture as strategy, not decoration. It’s the difference between projects that fade and ones that become movements.

Looking ahead, Liu identifies Southeast Asia, and Vietnam in particular, as the region’s next major inflection point. “Vietnam is the one to watch,” he says. “If policymakers recognise exchanges and integrate fiat on- and off-ramps, it could become a regional powerhouse.” He’s equally bullish on tokenised equities redefining access for emerging markets. “Tokenised stocks let people buy fractions of major companies directly from their phone, no broker or desktop terminal needed.” It’s the kind of shift, he argues, that could unlock millions of new participants who’ve been structurally excluded from traditional markets.

Watch the full conversation to see how Liu interprets the convergence of culture, accessibility and long-term strategy, and why he believes conviction, not momentum, will define the future of Web3.