In the early days of cryptocurrency, few voices carried both wisdom and foresight. Among them, one stood out—not for flashy predictions or short-term gains, but for a deep philosophical understanding of what Bitcoin truly represented. This is the story of ChangJia, a visionary whose words in 2011 would go on to become one of the most legendary pieces of financial advice in internet history.
The Origin of a Visionary
"Long sword, come home! No fish to eat. Long sword, come home! No carriage to ride. Long sword, come home! No house to call my own."
This ancient verse, sung by Feng Xuan—a strategist from the Warring States period—captures the restless spirit of a thinker unfulfilled by material comforts. Centuries later, it inspired the pseudonym ChangJia (meaning "long sword"), adopted by Liu Zhipeng, a man who would become one of China’s earliest and most influential voices in blockchain.
Once a civil servant at the Land and Resources Planning Institute, ChangJia spent his days on geological surveys but his mind elsewhere—on science fiction and the future. From 2006 to 2008, he won China's top sci-fi award three years in a row. Had he continued down that path, he might have become known as “China’s Liu Cixin.” But his curiosity took a new turn in 2011 when he discovered Bitcoin.
👉 Discover how early blockchain visionaries turned ideas into reality.
The $144,000 Prediction That Changed Everything
In December 2011, a college student asked a simple question on Zhihu: “I have 6,000 yuan. How should I invest it?”
ChangJia’s response was bold, almost reckless:
“Buy Bitcoin with all of it. Forget about it for five years, then check.”
At the time, Bitcoin was trading around $3**. Five years later, in 2016, it reached **$730—a return of over 240x. That initial 6,000 yuan (about $900 USD then) would have grown to roughly **$657,000, or 1.44 million RMB*—hence the nickname: “The 1.44 Million Zhihu Prophecy.”*
But ChangJia wasn’t just making a lucky guess. His insight came from seeing beyond price fluctuations to the core innovation: decentralized consensus through protocol design.
“If you only see Bitcoin as an investment vehicle, you’ll be a temporary passenger. But if you understand its philosophy and technology—and immerse yourself in it—you’ll gain far more in both wealth and wisdom.”
This mindset guided his own actions. In 2011, he invested 100,000 yuan at $35 per BTC**. When prices crashed to **$2, and especially after the infamous Mt. Gox collapse, most panicked and sold. ChangJia held firm.
“I liked this thing,” he said. “Most people saw it as open-source software. But I realized—it’s a protocol built on consensus.”
Founder of Barter and Bytom: Building the Infrastructure
ChangJia didn’t stop at prediction. He became a builder.
In 2011, he founded Barter (Babbitt), one of China’s first blockchain media platforms. At a time when few understood distributed ledgers, Barter became a hub for technical discussion, news, and education.
Despite pressure from peers to pivot into faster-profit models like P2P lending or exchanges, ChangJia stayed focused on long-term value—exploring data mining, credit evaluation systems, and foundational research.
“Too many Chinese participants stayed on the periphery—mining, trading—without contributing to core development. That’s how we risked losing touch with Bitcoin’s original vision.”
His commitment to substance over speed paid off. Barter remained resilient through market cycles, respected for its integrity and depth.
Then came Bytom (BiYuan Chain)—a blockchain project launched in June 2017 designed to bridge the physical and digital worlds.
Bytom’s mission was ambitious:
“Connect the atomic world with the digital world—enable seamless transfer and registration of assets across realms.”
Unlike many speculative tokens that collapsed during the 2018 bear market, Bytom held strong. Its value wasn’t tied to hype but to real utility in asset tokenization—a rare example of a cryptocurrency with lasting relevance.
The Mindset of a True Innovator
ChangJia writes like a philosopher-scientist. His books and talks are dense with references to thermodynamics, game theory, and first principles thinking. His 2016 book Blockchain: From Digital Currency to Credit Society remains a cornerstone text for newcomers seeking more than surface-level knowledge.
Even in fundraising pitches (BP), he refused to dumb things down. When advisors suggested removing mathematical formulas from Barter’s investor deck—standard practice in startup culture—he declined.
“Just because people prefer simplicity doesn’t mean complexity doesn’t exist. Truth often requires deeper thought.”
This refusal to compromise reflects his core belief:
“People should take pride in rational decisions and execution—not in random luck.”
He never gives investment advice today, not out of secrecy, but principle. For him, empowerment comes from understanding—not dependency.
Why His Legacy Matters Today
ChangJia embodies the rare blend of idealism and action. He didn’t just predict Bitcoin’s rise—he lived its values:
- Decentralization: By focusing on education and infrastructure.
- Long-term thinking: Holding through crashes and avoiding shortcuts.
- Intellectual rigor: Prioritizing truth over popularity.
Barter remains one of the most trusted sources for blockchain news in Chinese-speaking communities. Bytom continues to innovate in cross-chain asset protocols. And ChangJia’s writings inspire a generation of builders who believe technology can reshape society—not just portfolios.
👉 See how blockchain pioneers are shaping the next era of finance.
FAQ: Understanding ChangJia’s Impact
Q: Who is ChangJia in the blockchain world?
A: ChangJia (real name Liu Zhipeng) is a Chinese sci-fi writer turned blockchain pioneer. He’s best known for his early Bitcoin advocacy, founding Barter (a major blockchain media platform), and creating Bytom—a blockchain focused on asset digitization.
Q: Was the “144 million” prediction real?
A: Close—it was 1.44 million RMB (~$200k USD at the time). A Zhihu answer in 2011 advised investing 6,000 yuan in Bitcoin and forgetting it for five years. With BTC rising from $3 to $730, the math checks out.
Q: What is Bytom (BiYuan Chain)?
A: Bytom is a blockchain protocol designed to register and transfer physical assets (like gold or real estate) into digital form—bridging the “atomic” and “digital” worlds.
Q: Why didn’t ChangJia sell during crashes?
A: Because he understood Bitcoin at a foundational level—not as a speculative asset but as a new kind of consensus protocol with long-term societal implications.
Q: Is Barter still active today?
A: Yes. Barter remains one of China’s leading blockchain information platforms, known for high-quality content and technical depth.
Q: Does ChangJia still influence crypto today?
A: Absolutely. His emphasis on understanding first principles, building real infrastructure, and rejecting hype continues to resonate with serious developers and investors.
ChangJia’s journey reminds us that true innovation isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about seeing what others miss and having the courage to act on it.
Whether you're exploring cryptocurrency for the first time or building your own project, let this be a lesson:
The future belongs not to speculators, but to those who understand—and build—the foundations beneath the surface.
👉 Start your journey into blockchain with tools trusted by innovators.