NTU Blockchain Workshop 2023 : A Confluence of Academia and Industry

On September 6th, 2023, the NTU Centre in Computational Technologies for Finance (NTU-CCTF) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore successfully hosted the "NTU Blockchain Workshop 2023" at the NTU's main campus. The event drew the participation of over 700 scholars, industry experts, and blockchain enthusiasts. Through keynote presentations and insightful panel discussions, luminaries from the academic and industrial realms of the blockchain sector came together to delve into the innovative applications and academic advances of blockchain technology.The workshop's inaugural session began with a captivating address by Prof. Wen Yonggang, Director of NTU-CCTF. Prof. Wen delivered a comprehensive overview of NTU-CCTF's mission encompassing education, research, and community development. He underscored the centre's steadfast commitment to seamlessly integrating these facets and its dedication to achieving excellence in transformative financial technology, providing a meaningful foundation for the subsequent cutting-edge discussions.

Following this, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum and Chair of the NTU-CCTF Advisory Committee, gave a riveting presentation titled "Ethereum: Past and Present." Widely respected and endearingly referred to as "V God" by the online community, Vitalik captivated the audience as he charted Ethereum's journey from its inception to its present state, while also hinting at potential future directions. He traversed through the evolution of Ethereum's "smart contract" concept to the transformation of consensus mechanisms, chronicling milestones that have shaped blockchain history. His oration, replete with depth and meaning, was met with fervent applause from the audience. The subsequent Q&A was particularly vibrant, with attendees seizing the opportunity to pose a myriad of blockchain-related queries, receiving detailed and astute responses in return. Vitalik's address not only deepened the audience's understanding of this frontier technology but also catalyzed enthusiastic interactions among the participants.

Following Vitalik Buterin's spellbinding keynote, the workshop transitioned into two specialized segments: "Session 1: Emerging Blockchain Technologies" and "Session 2: Blockchain in FinTech Applications"

Prof. Liu Yang from NTU's School of Computer Science and Engineering delivered an insightful lecture titled 'Application Security Copilot: A Case Study for Solidity' Prof. Liu's elucidation centred on the quintessential domain of security in blockchain applications, with a special focus on the utilization of Solidity. His profound insights offered the audience fresh perspectives on blockchain application security, thereby igniting further intellectual curiosity.

Subsequently, Prof. Sikdar Biplab of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at the National University of Singapore (NUS) graced the stage. His engaging lecture on 'Blockchains for Vehicular Networks: Applications for Security' extrapolated the benefits of blockchain integration into vehicular networks, thereby elucidating the revolutionary improvements in vehicular communication security that blockchain could facilitate.

Concluding the first segment, Associate Prof. Zhu Feida from Singapore Management University (SMU) presented 'Web3 in the Age of AI.' His paper on 'Web3 in the Age of AI' explored the theoretical and practical intersections between Web3 and Artificial Intelligence, thereby illuminating prospective synergies and fostering discussions on the future roadmap of these twin technologies. 

The first session rounded off with a panel discussion, Panel Discussion 1, titled "Challenges in Blockchain Technology and Applications," convened a distinguished group of experts in the field, offering a platform for insightful discussions on the intricacies and possibilities within the blockchain ecosystem. Moderated by Prof. Li Yi. the panel featured Dr. Derek Wang, the General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Singapore, South Asia, and Thailand, who shared expertise in cloud computing and data intelligence. Tang Xing, an industry luminary with a history of leadership roles at major tech firms, contributed his wealth of knowledge. Dr George Shao, CTO of Mind Network, offered insights into zero-trust AI and cryptography.

The discussion covered multiple dimensions of blockchain, including its integration across diverse sectors, driving factors for enterprise adoption, evolving security landscape, regulatory challenges, and seamless incorporation of Web3 protocols in daily applications.

Following a brief intermission for tea, the seminar smoothly transitioned into its second segment, "Blockchain in FinTech Applications" . Setting the tone for the session was Prof. Wang Neng from Columbia Business School, whose compelling presentation, "Valuing Platforms and Tokens: A Q Theory with Search and Matching," provided attendees with a deep dive into the economic models that underpin blockchain platforms.

Next, Huang Donghao, the Vice President of R&D at Mastercard, delivered an insightful presentation titled "The Future of Commerce in the Web3 Era." He captivated the audience with an incisive talk that focused on the transformative possibilities that blockchain technology could bring to the commercial landscape in the Web3 era.

Following that, Ryan Chen, representing HashKey Capital, gave an enlightening presentation titled "Outlook for Web 3.0 Investment in a Regulated Era." He shared invaluable insights into the ever-changing investment landscape in a Web 3.0-regulated world, highlighting both emerging opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

The session reached its crescendo with Prof. Boh Wai Fong, Deputy Dean of NTU's Business School, offering a captivating talk on "Utilizing Enterprise Blockchain for Climate Change Mitigation Actions." Her discourse ignited insightful conversations about blockchain's prospective roles in environmental stewardship.

 

Panel Discussion 2, titled "Future of Blockchain – Trends and Predictions," brought together a distinguished panel of experts who have been instrumental in shaping the blockchain landscape. Under the expert moderation of Prof. Zhang Tianwei, Assistant Professor at NTU, this panel provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the future trajectory of blockchain technology.

The panel included Prof. Wang Neng from Columbia University, who delved into the economic models of blockchain platforms. Bao Te, an Associate Professor at NTU, added to the insightful dialogue with his expertise. Su Xiaoqing, Managing Partner of Arcane, brought a diverse background from the gaming industry and investments, contributing valuable insights. Jasmine Zhang, Founding partner at A&T Capital, with her extensive experience in crypto investment and quantitative research, rounded out the panel.The discussion covered a broad spectrum of topics, such as the implications for traditional financial institutions, data security, tokenization, the impact of blockchain on capital markets, and its interaction with emerging technologies like AI and IoT. This panel served as a thought-provoking exploration of the trends and predictions that will define the future of blockchain technology within the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Finally, in her role as the Co-Director of NTU's Centre in Computational Technologies for Finance (CCTF), Prof. Boh Wai Fong expertly encapsulated the proceedings. Her wrap-up cohesively integrated the critical insights and forward-looking perspectives shared throughout the day, while accentuating the game-changing potential of blockchain technology.

For those who couldn't be there in person, a recorded version of the event will soon be accessible via the official NTU-CCTF YouTube channel. We cordially invite you to keep abreast of our cutting-edge research and upcoming events through the NTU-CCTF website and social media platforms.