Aster CEO Leonard Reveals How the Ethereum ICO Sparked His Crypto Journey After HFT, P2P Bust and Hyperledger Misstep

In recent crypto news, Aster CEO Leonard recounted his transition from a technologist in a Hong Kong investment bank—specializing in high-frequency trading—to entrepreneurship during the era of the Internet Plus narrative, launching a P2P lending venture that ultimately collapsed with the sector, yielding important operational lessons.

Leonard described his entry into the digital-asset space via the Ethereum ICO, noting early realized gains followed by losses across subsequent trades; he frames these outcomes as formative, catalyzing a sustained focus on blockchain technology rather than short-term market performance.

He later built a lending platform within IBM Blockchain’s Hyperledger and developed an NFT and token solution for a gaming platform, acknowledging in retrospect that ecosystem choice and market timing were principal factors in those projects’ limited commercial traction.