Article author: Echo
Article source: ME
The Web 3.0 strategies and plans of listed companies have become a hot topic of increasing public interest. Against this backdrop, ME has officially launched its "Crypto Stock Executive Interviews" series . We will speak with leaders of companies that are pioneering digital transformation. Through the perspective of decision-makers, we will delve into their strategic plans, business innovations, and financial innovations, providing forward-looking insights for industry participants.
On August 8, 2025, IVD MEDICAL (01931.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, issued a series of major announcements on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, announcing that it had reached a global strategic cooperation with HashKey Exchange, Hong Kong's largest licensed virtual asset trading platform, and completed the first batch of HK$149.47 million in Ethereum (ETH) reserve purchases, officially launching the "Global Enhanced Ethereum (ETH) Vault with Downside Protection Mechanism" strategy.
In this interview, Gary Deng, Chief Strategy Officer of IVD MEDICAL (01931.HK), provides an in-depth explanation of how the company strategically balances the conservatism of the healthcare industry with the radicalism of the Web 3.0 world. He also shares IVD MEDICAL's ongoing global enhanced Ethereum (ETH) treasury strategy with downside protection (referred to as the Ethereum "ETH" treasury strategy) and the ivd.xyz exchange ecosystem plan, aiming to open a new door for the globalization and capitalization of innovative pharmaceutical assets.
Not "conflict" but "complementarity": How does Web 3.0 solve the real pain points of the medical industry?
Is the healthcare industry conservative? Gary Deng thinks the answer is no.
"The medical industry has its traditions, but even more so its innovations. It's a demanding, high-intensity, and highly regulated industry. Especially before the rise of AI, almost all breakthroughs relied on scientists—the industry is practically built on PhDs."
However, this characteristic also presents challenges. The R&D cycle for innovative drugs is extremely long, requiring an average investment of US$1 billion and nearly ten years to complete the entire process from laboratory to commercialization. The tightening global financing environment in recent years has exacerbated the challenges faced by many small and medium-sized innovative pharmaceutical companies. "They have many high-quality pipeline assets, are already in the mid-stage of development, and have promising product prospects. However, they struggle to meet the listing requirements of Hong Kong Stock Exchange's Chapter 18A listing and the US Nasdaq, hindering their ability to secure support from global capital markets," noted Gary Deng.
On the other hand, large overseas pharmaceutical companies (such as Pfizer and Merck) have an extremely strong demand for China's innovative drug assets. "In the first half of this year alone, the value of overseas licensing of China's innovative drug pipeline reached nearly $70 billion. However, these collaborations are limited to the top of the top, leaving the vast majority of small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies with no opportunity to connect with the global market."
It is precisely this imbalance between supply and demand that has allowed Huajian Medical to see the integration opportunities that Web 3.0 and blockchain technology bring to the pharmaceutical industry.
“Web 3.0 is not an opposition, but a powerful complement. It can help traditional medical assets achieve better global allocation, which is the starting point of our strategic thinking.”
Two-Wheel Drive: Ethereum (ETH) Treasury Strategy + ivd.xyz Exchange Ecosystem
Huajian's Web 3.0 strategy did not come out of thin air, but was evolved step by step based on its industrial ecology as a listed company.
1. Ethereum (ETH) Treasury: Not Just "Holding" but "Feeding Back to the Ecosystem"
Huajian Medical has received board approval for a HK$880 million budget to purchase Ethereum (ETH), and has already purchased HK$149.47 million. It plans to continue increasing its holdings through regular investments. More notably, the company is pursuing a larger HK$3 billion quota, currently awaiting shareholder approval.
Unlike many companies that simply "hoard coins", Huajian Medical's Ethereum "ETH" vault is an "enhanced version" - it is deeply integrated with the innovative drug RWA exchange ecosystem.
"We will tokenize the innovative drug IP pipeline assets we acquire or collaborate on through the RWA exchange, and after they reach a certain stage of development, we will sell them to global pharmaceutical companies or take them public. The resulting profits will be reinvested into the Ethereum (ETH) vault. Furthermore, the profits from Ethereum (ETH) itself will be fed back into the acquisition of innovative drug assets – thus forming a closed business loop."
2. Why Ethereum (ETH) and not Bitcoin?
Gary Deng responded clearly: "We chose Ethereum (ETH) because it is more in line with our industry attributes."
As a publicly listed industrial company, Huajian Medical must consider the integration of technology, ecosystem, and business. Ethereum's infrastructure, including smart contracts, DeFi, and asset issuance, can better support the tokenization and trading ecosystem of innovative pharmaceutical IP, while Bitcoin currently lacks such application adaptability.
Who will become users of the ivd.xyz exchange? How will the barriers to entry be lowered?
A practical question is: How can Huajian Medical attract medical professionals, pharmaceutical scientists, and traditional investors who are unfamiliar with blockchain? Gary Deng explained that there are several key players in the ivd.xyz exchange ecosystem:
- Asset issuers: innovative pharmaceutical companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, who are willing to obtain financing and liquidity through asset tokenization;
- Platform: Huajian Medical and exchange ecosystem;
- Compliance service providers: auditors, law firms, regulatory agencies, etc.
- Investors: including professional medical investment institutions, Web 3.0 native funds, and ordinary investors who will be admitted in the future under compliance conditions.
“We don’t expect every doctor or scientist to become a Web 3.0 user—they’re more focused on scientific research itself. What we need to do is address their real needs: financing difficulties, low asset liquidity, and high barriers to globalization.”
As for universal education? Gary Deng appears unfazed: "It always takes time for new things to be accepted, but in the global wave of digitalization, it's only a matter of time. We will ensure that more people understand and trust this system through a compliant, transparent, and gradual approach."
From Hong Kong to the world, Huajian Medical's ambition has just begun
As a Hong Kong-listed company, Huajian Medical is actively pursuing a secondary listing in the United States, which aligns with its globalization strategy. Gary Deng emphasized that Huajian Medical's goal is to become "a benchmark for Ethereum (ETH) treasury reserves in Hong Kong and even the Asian market," and to gradually establish a presence in the global Web 3.0 healthcare finance ecosystem.
The depth of the healthcare industry and the agility of the Web 3.0 world are interweaving to create an unprecedented landscape within Huajian Medical's strategy. Perhaps soon, we'll see more traditional industry giants begin to rethink the future of assets, liquidity, and globalization with similar thinking.
