The crypto world has its eyes fixed on Singapore this week. As of October 2, 2025, the annual TOKEN2049 conference is buzzing with energy. With 25,000+ attendees, 300 speakers, and hundreds of side events across the city, the event has cemented itself as the epicenter of Web3 discussions in Asia (TOKEN2049).
Right in the middle of the action is Evan Auyang, Group President of Animoca Brands, who is set to decode how blockchain gaming, NFTs, and digital property rights are fueling the next chapter of Web3 adoption. For anyone interested in the open metaverse, tokenized assets, and the future of digital ownership, his appearance is one of the most anticipated sessions of the conference.
In this article, we’ll unpack why Evan Auyang’s perspective matters, how Animoca Brands is shaping the industry in 2025, and what TOKEN2049’s agenda tells us about the mainstream adoption of Web3 technologies.
Who Is Evan Auyang? The Man Behind Animoca’s Web3 Push
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Evan Auyang has a track record that spans both traditional finance and emerging technologies. A graduate of Brown University and Kellogg School of Management, Auyang has worked at Citigroup, McKinsey & Company, and even ran operations at Kowloon Motor Bus, one of Hong Kong’s largest transit companies (Forbes).
In 2021, Auyang pivoted into Animoca Brands, stepping in as Group President during a time when Web3 gaming and NFTs were exploding. Under his leadership, Animoca scaled rapidly, pushing digital property rights, blockchain marketplaces, and DeFi solutions that empower users to own in-game assets instead of renting them from centralized corporations.
His influence extends beyond gaming. He’s a policy advisor for Hong Kong’s Trade Development Council, a lecturer at the Academy of Politics and Public Policy, and sits on Brown University’s environmental advisory council, blending sustainability with blockchain innovation (Animoca Brands).
Notably, in early 2025, he hinted at Animoca’s U.S. expansion amid more favorable regulations under the Trump administration, signaling a potential acceleration in Web3 adoption across America (Coindesk).
Animoca Brands in 2025: From Gaming Studio to Web3 Powerhouse
Animoca Brands began as a mobile gaming company in 2006, but today it is a global Web3 leader. With over 540 investments, the company has transformed into an ecosystem builder spanning NFTs, metaverse platforms, DeFi, and tokenized real-world assets (Crunchbase).
Some 2025 highlights:
- Q4 2024 revenue surged to $108 million, a 167% increase quarter-over-quarter.
- $57 million came from digital asset advisory services, while $37 million came from Web3 operations like The Sandbox and Moca Network.
- In April 2025, Animoca announced a $100 million Bitcoin partnership with DDC Enterprise to strengthen corporate treasuries (Yahoo Finance).
- By June, NFT sales averaged $500 million monthly, proving tokenized assets remain in high demand.
- August brought new partnerships, including collaborations with Sony’s Soneium for anime-driven identity layers and ProvLabs for tokenized real-world assets.
- $MOCA token, launched in 2024, continues to serve as a community and governance asset, cementing Animoca’s ecosystem.
With these moves, Animoca has positioned itself not just as a gaming company but as a pillar of the open metaverse economy.
Why TOKEN2049 in Singapore Matters
TOKEN2049 is more than a conference—it’s where the Asia-Pacific Web3 ecosystem converges. Taking place at Marina Bay Sands from October 1–2, 2025, it features 500 exhibitors, 200+ sessions, and 500+ side events across the week (TOKEN2049 Agenda).
This year’s headliners include Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum), Richard Teng (OKX), and of course, Evan Auyang. Animoca is also hosting its own Portfolio Day on September 30, bringing together 500+ portfolio companies and partners.
Singapore’s role as Asia’s fintech hub, with regulatory clarity around stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure, makes it the perfect stage for Web3 discussions. As Bloomberg reported, the city has become a bridge between East and West in the blockchain space (Bloomberg).
What to Expect From Evan Auyang’s Talk
Evan’s session focuses on “Mainstream Adoption”, a recurring theme in Animoca’s strategy. Based on his past talks at Consensus and ReThink HK, we can expect a mix of visionary insights and pragmatic strategies.
Key talking points likely include:
- Digital Identity & Privacy: How Moca Network’s privacy-preserving IDs, developed with Plume, could onboard 700M+ users securely.
- Tokenized Equity: The move to tokenize GAMEE’s equity on-chain, democratizing investment opportunities.
- U.S. Regulatory Momentum: How favorable policies could accelerate adoption of tokenized assets in America.
- Education Through Gaming: Using projects like Anichess (in collaboration with Chess.com) to boost financial literacy.
His approach is often realistic but optimistic. While acknowledging crypto’s volatility—NFT booms and busts, $100B+ daily trading volumes—Auyang emphasizes long-term infrastructure building over short-term hype.
Why This Matters for Web3’s Future
Evan Auyang’s presence at TOKEN2049 is more than symbolic—it represents Web3’s transition from hype to utility. Animoca’s efforts in interoperable assets, gaming economies, and DeFi education point toward a future where Web3 isn’t a niche but an everyday layer of digital life.
For developers, his message will be about building interoperable metaverse ecosystems.
For investors, it’s a signal to explore diversified portfolios spanning BTC, ETH, $MOCA, and tokenized RWAs.
For everyday users, it’s proof that owning digital assets is no longer an experiment—it’s becoming the norm.
Final Thoughts: Animoca, Evan Auyang, and the Road Ahead
As TOKEN2049 Singapore unfolds, Evan Auyang’s keynote will likely echo a central idea: Web3 adoption will happen when we stop calling it Web3 and simply call it the internet of the future.
With Animoca’s momentum—from billion-dollar partnerships to groundbreaking tokenization initiatives—2025 could mark the year when the open metaverse moves closer to reality.
For those watching from afar, the implications are huge: digital property rights, NFT interoperability, tokenized real-world assets, and financial literacy through gaming are converging into one powerful narrative.
Whether you’re a developer, investor, or gamer, Auyang’s insights are a reminder that the future of Web3 is being shaped right now in Singapore.
Sources
- TOKEN2049 Official Site: https://www.token2049.com/
- Animoca Brands: https://www.animocabrands.com/
- Crunchbase – Animoca Brands Profile: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/animoca-brands
- Yahoo Finance – Animoca Funding: https://finance.yahoo.com/
- Bloomberg – Singapore’s Fintech Role: https://www.bloomberg.com/
- Coindesk – U.S. Regulatory Developments: https://www.coindesk.com/
- Forbes – Evan Auyang Career Background: https://www.forbes.com/
