Article author: 0x9999in1

Article source: Me

The Web3 strategies and deployments 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 deployments, business innovations, and financial innovations, providing forward-looking insights for industry participants.

This interview features Robo.ai (Nasdaq: AIIO) CEO Benjamin Zhai and Changer.ae Senior Executive Officer Wang Hao, CFA. As the only smart manufacturing and new energy technology company in the UAE listed on Nasdaq, Robo.ai has partnered with digital asset custody service Changer.ae, a licensed Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), to become the first smart manufacturing company in the Middle East to support stablecoin trading. Through the insights of these two speakers, this article will delve into the strategic rationale, transformational vision, and future potential behind this collaboration, showcasing the transformative power of the integration of smart manufacturing and crypto-finance.

Career trajectory: Seeking unlimited advancement in respective fields

Benjamin Zhai's career spans multiple countries, keeping his finger on the pulse of China's economic and technological transformation. He shares, "My career has always centered around major industry transformations in China, and I've been fortunate to have hit several key milestones." From working for a domestic state-owned enterprise to immigrating to Australia in the 1990s to attend business school, and then to a multinational management consulting firm, Benjamin Zhai has accumulated extensive experience in the automotive, new energy, and high-tech sectors. He spent 13 years at a top global headhunting firm, focusing on attracting high-end talent. He participated in the early stages of the startup and growth of technology companies such as NIO, Mobike, Neolithic, Canoo, and Fiture, earning him the nickname "Father of Headhunting" in China. After joining Robo.ai in 2025, he drove the company's global and intelligent transformation, serving as CEO and leading the company's transformation into an intelligent technology platform.

Wang Hao outlined his career path in finance, from studying in Tianjin to working in investment banking and securities in Tokyo, and then focusing on buy-side investments in Singapore, covering the secondary market and private equity venture capital. He shared, "When I entered the blockchain industry in 2020, I found it to be a mixed bag, with no compliant and reliable platform for everyone to conduct simple transactions." This became the driving force behind his deep involvement in blockchain. After joining Changer.ae in 2024, he is committed to building a secure and efficient financial services ecosystem to address the access barriers of traditional finance. He said, "Third world countries need simple and secure financial services; developed financial centers require more complex and comprehensive products."

Strategic fit: complementary needs under the UAE's advantages

The collaboration between Robo.ai and Changer.ae began with a fortuitous coincidence. The partnership stems from the complementary needs of both parties and the unique advantages of the UAE. Benjamin Zhai stated, "We have a large client base in the automotive and smart hardware sectors, and the UAE is one of the most thriving regions for blockchain, Web3, and digital currency. Our collaboration with Changer.ae is not just about combining stablecoins, but also about synergy between ecosystems." Robo.ai has transitioned from a new energy vehicle company to a smart manufacturing company. Benjamin Zhai stated, "Faced with fierce competition in the global market, Robo.ai has chosen to leverage the UAE's locational advantages (friendly global partnerships and a strong cultural inclusiveness) and the capital and supply chain resources of a US-listed company to develop its core competitiveness." This collaboration combines Robo.ai's client base with the UAE's innovative environment to explore the integration of smart manufacturing and Web3.

Wang Hao added from a financial perspective, "The foundation of this partnership is deep mutual trust. Robo.ai's clear vision for the future complements our group's financial services ecosystem." He emphasized that stablecoins have entered the industrial application stage. "From the first stablecoin issuance in 2016 to Circle becoming the second-largest stablecoin in 2019, the technology has matured significantly. Now, we're entering the commercial model stage. The combination of Robo.ai's smart manufacturing and our financial services will create a benchmark case and build confidence for other companies."

A new chapter in transformation: Robo.ai's brand renewal

This partnership marks Robo.ai's transformation from new energy vehicles to a smart technology platform. Benjamin Zhai outlined three strategic directions: Smart Mobility, Smart Devices, and Smart Contracts. He stated, "These three directions were jointly developed by our management team based on our new corporate strategy. The Board expects me, as CEO, to be key in driving the company's transformation and upgrade. New energy vehicles are no longer novel globally. Robo.ai aims to move beyond new energy vehicles to smart vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and even explore integrated air and land smart mobility." He mentioned the Astra intelligent autonomous mobility equipment project and future plans for air taxis, emphasizing, "We will integrate autonomous vehicles, drones, and even air mobility into smart devices to create smart mobility scenarios."

Wang Hao added from a financial perspective, "The foundation of this partnership is deep mutual trust. ROBOAI's clear vision for the future complements our group's financial services ecosystem." He emphasized that stablecoins have entered the industrial application stage. "From the first stablecoin issuance in 2018 to Circle becoming the second-largest stablecoin today, the overall technical system of the stablecoin industry has matured. Now entering the commercial model stage, the combination of ROBOAI's intelligent manufacturing and our financial services can create a benchmark case and build confidence for other companies."

Stablecoin-driven: Reshaping transaction and industry models

Addressing the hot topic of "How can stablecoins reshape financial services?" Wang Hao outlined three key advantages of stablecoins: low fees, high timeliness, and capital cost savings. He stated, "Stablecoins can reduce fees by over 90%, allowing transactions to be completed within ten minutes, significantly reducing capital costs." This addresses the long settlement cycles and high risk of advance payment in traditional finance, and is particularly effective in cross-border trade.

Benjamin Zhai analyzed the potential scenarios of stablecoins from an industrial perspective: "Stablecoins must be integrated with the real economy, covering travel, distribution, manufacturing, and sales scenarios. Our cooperation with Changer.ae starts with payment, and in the future it can be expanded to areas such as robotaxis and digital employees. Can we let robotaxis help us mine coins or provide services? These are all possible." He believes that the acceptance of stablecoins is about to reach a turning point, and Robo.ai will use this opportunity to explore more innovative scenarios.

Security and Compliance: Building a Solid Foundation for Financial Services

Regarding digital asset security and compliance, Wang Hao explained Changer.ae's three-tiered approach: proprietary custody and wallet technology, compliance with the FSRA regulatory requirements of the UAE's ADGM, and the introduction of financial insurance to mitigate risks. This ensures fund security and transaction stability for clients like ROBOAI. He emphasized the need for collaborative advancement of technological innovation and regulation, ensuring compliance through communication with regulators.

Benjamin Zhai readily agreed with this topic and added his observations on the UAE's regulatory environment: "The UAE has a bottom line but no upper limit. The regulatory bottom line is clear, while providing huge space for innovation. This provides solid support for our cooperation." He believes that this environment provides a unique environment for the integration of Robo.ai and Changer.ae.

Far-reaching significance: A milestone towards the virtual world

For ordinary users, this collaboration between the two companies is more like "adding another payment method." So, what's the underlying value? Benjamin Zhai stated, "This collaboration is both a beginning and a milestone, marking Robo.ai's transformation and upgrade. It's not only significant for us, but will also create long-term value for our customers, investors, and ecosystem partners." He emphasized that this is a significant step for Robo.ai as it transitions from the physical world to the financial and virtual worlds.

Wang Hao viewed this collaboration from the perspective of users and the market, stating, "Stablecoins are not just a means of payment; they are leverage for unlocking market potential. Just like Alipay transformed shopping channels 20 years ago, stablecoins provide low-cost, efficient financial services to the UAE's 80% of migrant population, expanding their global customer base." He further noted, "This could potentially catalyze the creation of a new global payment system, attracting more businesses to join the UAE's digital economy ecosystem."

Envisioning the future: Deep integration of intelligent technology and finance

Looking ahead to Robo.ai's long-term goal of integrating smart technology and financial technology, Benjamin Zhai is confident: "We are at the right juncture of time, location, and people. Leveraging the UAE's innovative environment and global supply chain advantages, Robo.ai will have tremendous potential. In addition to new energy vehicles, we will also explore robotaxis, other smart products, and multi-scenario smart travel." He emphasized that by combining Web3 technology, Robo.ai will build a comprehensive technology platform to promote the deep integration of smart manufacturing and finance.

Wang Hao focused on his goals for the coming year: "We will first establish channels to ensure fund security and smooth processes, then promote standardization and replicability to create an industry benchmark." He added: "This will not only facilitate business development, but also serve as a reference for regulatory cases and school curriculum, attracting more companies to the UAE and jointly building a new global payment and financial services ecosystem."

Conclusion

The collaboration between Robo.ai and Changer.ae represents a unique encounter between smart manufacturing and crypto-finance, embodying the bridge between the physical and digital worlds envisioned by Benjamin Zhai. Leveraging the UAE's open regulatory framework and advantageous location, the two parties are exploring collaborative innovation in smart mobility, devices, and contracts, using stablecoins as a starting point. This is not only a milestone in Robo.ai's transformation into a smart technology platform, but also a pioneering example of the integration of industry and finance in the digital economy. As applications expand and the ecosystem grows, this collaboration will inject significant momentum into the global Web3 and smart technology landscape.

Robo.ai official website: www.roboai.io