Andrew Fai is a Web3 event organizer and ecosystem operator best known as the co-founder and CEO of the Asia Blockchain Summit (ABS), a Taipei-based conference series focused on blockchain, digital assets, and related policy and infrastructure topics. His work is primarily associated with convening founders, developers, investors, and public sector stakeholders around themes such as crypto market structure, regulation, and on-chain innovation across networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Overview
Fai’s public profile centers on building industry programming and partnerships for ABS, which has been positioned as one of the larger recurring blockchain events in Greater Asia. Conference materials and biographies describe him as a FinTech and crypto practitioner with experience bridging private sector firms and government or quasi-government institutions. In practice, his role has included event strategy, speaker and agenda development, sponsorship and ecosystem coordination, and the operational execution of multi-day conferences with associated side events.
History and Background
ABS biographies describe Fai as MIT FinTech certified, with an earlier background as a financial advisor before shifting into blockchain-focused consulting and ecosystem work. Event profiles have also stated that he has consulted for organizations such as PwC, the Taiwan Stock Exchange, and Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan on topics spanning FinTech, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. This mix of market and policy exposure has shaped ABS programming, which frequently includes regulatory discussions alongside developer and product tracks.
ABS has been described as founded in Taipei in 2018, associated with BlockTempo Media Group. The summit’s stated mission has generally emphasized accelerating blockchain adoption and building practical dialogue between builders, capital allocators, and policymakers, particularly in an Asia-Pacific context.
Asia Blockchain Summit
Under Fai’s leadership, ABS has developed a format that combines headline keynotes, panels, workshops, and ecosystem showcases. ABS press materials have reported attendance in the tens of thousands across multi-day schedules, with international participation and a focus on cross-ecosystem representation. For example, ABS2024 communications published on CryptoSlate reported 13,254 participants and described the event as hosted at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Programming has also highlighted intersections between blockchain, AI, governance, and consumer adoption, reflecting a broader shift in industry conferences toward applications and public policy, not only token markets.
- Cross-sector agenda: Tracks typically span protocol infrastructure, consumer applications, enterprise and institutional adoption, and regulatory frameworks.
- Ecosystem convening: ABS is structured to bring multiple networks and developer communities into one venue, alongside exchanges, wallets, and service providers.
- Policy and governance emphasis: Panels and keynotes often address supervision, compliance, and the practical implications of crypto policy for builders and users.
- Side events: ABS has historically hosted community meetups, partner activations, and themed sessions that extend beyond the main stage program.
Notable Moments and Speakers
ABS has been associated with several widely cited moments that helped establish its visibility beyond Taiwan. A recurring reference point is the “Tangle in Taipei” debate featuring economist Nouriel Roubini and Arthur Hayes, then linked to BitMEX. CryptoSlate coverage from 2019 captured the debate’s tone and its role in reflecting broader tensions between crypto advocates and skeptics.
ABS materials have also highlighted a demonstration involving astronaut Chris Hadfield receiving a Bitcoin transaction via the Blockstream Satellite service, underscoring the summit’s interest in “offline resilient” infrastructure narratives. In 2024 press materials, ABS also promoted headline appearances tied to major ecosystem figures such as Vitalik Buterin, alongside programming oriented around governance and coordination themes.
Other Initiatives and Ecosystem Activity
Crypto and NFT community coverage has linked Fai to additional initiatives beyond conference production, including founder-level involvement in DeStation Protocol in some profiles. Public information about these efforts varies by source, but they align with a pattern common among regional ecosystem organizers who combine media, events, and product experimentation to grow local developer and user communities.
Risks and Considerations
Event-driven ecosystem building carries structural risks that readers should evaluate independently. Conference impact is difficult to measure and often depends on market cycles, sponsorship conditions, and broader regulatory sentiment. Additionally, ABS coverage on CryptoSlate includes sponsored press releases, which can include optimistic attendance or partnership claims. Readers should treat promotional statements as organizer-reported and distinguish them from independently verified reporting.
More broadly, Fai’s work sits at the intersection of public discourse and market infrastructure, where reputational risk can arise from speaker selection, sponsor alignment, and the shifting compliance environment in crypto. For industry participants, the practical value of ABS is typically highest when used as a networking and coordination venue, rather than as a proxy signal for market direction.
