Neo’s Next Chapter: John Wang on Building the Smart Economy and Empowering AI Developers

Neo isn't just another Layer 1. Often referred to as the "Ethereum of China," it's a smart contract platform with a mission to power the next-generation smart economy. That means bringing together digital assets, digital identity, and smart contracts into one seamless, interoperable network.

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Leading this charge is John Wang, Head of Ecosystem Development at Neo, who has played a pivotal role in expanding the protocol’s global reach and developer ecosystem.

In this interview, John unpacks Neo’s evolution, its strategy for onboarding real-world adoption, and what sets it apart in a crowded blockchain landscape. From cross-chain innovation to grassroots developer growth, he shares a clear vision of how Neo is positioning itself for long-term relevance and why 2025 might be its most defining year yet.

Origin Story Into The Crypto Industry + Coming Developments

To start off the conversation, John Wang was asked about how he discovered crypto and what made him pursue a career in this industry. As a consultant, he developed a strong network and when a friend mentioned Bitcoin, John decided to do further research. He was amazed by the technology and decided to join the Neo Blockchain team. This was back in 2017 and now, he worked his way up to being responsible for Neo’s operations such as investments and expansion.
“Neo is actually a very old blockchain, so some people have called us the dinosaur coin."

John Wang, Head of Ecosystem Development at Neo
After joking about how old Neo Blockchain was, John continued by emphasizing that the blockchain’s age is not a red flag but rather a testament to how well it’s stood up against time. He also emphasized that they are working on new innovations to support its timeless infrastructure. With that being said, as a developer community driven blockchain AI has become their next target. By supporting developers building next-gen AI applications, John believes SpoonOS will be a pillar in the space.

SpoonOS Helps Support AI Developers

John continues the conversation by explaining how there are two types of people that deserve support in the AI development industry. Firstly, the developers themselves are the ones that are contributing by building actual applications and systems.$500k rewards are offered for those that meet their criteria. An internal technical team at Neo Blockchain evaluates and assesses their potential and makes the final decision.

The second group are the ones actually promoting this type of technology. Without these marketers, the product will lose momentum and as unit economics are essential for the success of any product, Neo Blockchain believes both the builders and the promoters should be well supported in their goal of getting next-gen AI to the masses.

Insights On The Broader Web3 and AI Industry

With John’s origin story established and the future of Neo Blockchain identified, the conversation turned towards the broader industry and how it’s currently developing as we approach the end of 2025. John expresses how when the industry was in its infancy, processes that should have been simple were not user-friendly. For example, buying crypto was confusing but now there are plenty of exchanges with UX built in mind.
“We we first entered the industry, things such as the wallets were difficult for the average person to use.”

John Wang, Head of Ecosystem Development at Neo
John believes that the industry will continue to make complex crypto processes more and more accessible and user friendly. From a technical and business standpoint, John believes that the industry has a long way to go in connecting these aspects to the mainstream users. Simply put, John is excited to see how Neo Blockchain can give tools to creators so that they can connect their projects with the real world better.

Message For New Entries Into The Industry

As the conversation comes to a close, John reflects on how difficult it must be for builders to focus on one project as there are so many now available in the space. There’s always new tokens, new projects and even new directions within existing projects and John welcomes it. However, John wanted to remind listeners that Neo Blockchain is still a developer community driven platform and no matter the direction developers choose, they are prepared to support their goals.

John emphasizes that while the blockchain space has become increasingly fragmented, with countless L1s and ecosystems vying for attention, what truly matters is giving developers the space, tools, and incentives to build with intention.

Whether it's through improved documentation, funding opportunities, or direct engineering support, Neo is doubling down on ecosystem empowerment. He notes that real impact doesn’t always come from chasing the latest trend, it comes from building something meaningful and sustainable, and that's where Neo is putting its energy.

Final Thoughts

John Wang leaves us with a grounded, forward-looking message. In a space overflowing with innovation and noise, Neo Blockchain remains focused on enabling builders to create with purpose. Rather than chasing hype cycles, the team is investing in the fundamentals, developer tools, AI infrastructure, and real-world use cases.

As the industry matures, John sees Neo not just as a legacy chain but as a platform that continues to evolve with the times. For developers looking for long-term alignment and deep ecosystem support, Neo is keeping its door wide open and we’re excited to see what’s next for this monumental blockchain.