In the rapidly evolving world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, few figures have demonstrated the blend of technical ingenuity, financial acumen, and strategic vision quite like Zhao Guofeng. A name that resonates across early Bitcoin communities, Zhao emerged from relative obscurity in Shenzhen to become a pivotal player in mining operations, arbitrage trading, and global blockchain expansion.
His journey reflects the broader maturation of the crypto ecosystem—from decentralized individualism to institutionalized infrastructure. As founder of Bitcoin World, creator of the RichFund (RFund) arbitrage fund, and former CEO of Huobi Korea, Zhao Guofeng has left an indelible mark on the industry.
The Rise of a Bitcoin Arbitrage Innovator
Zhao Guofeng first gained prominence through high-frequency Bitcoin arbitrage trading, commonly known as “搬砖” (literally “brick moving”)—a strategy that exploits price differences across exchanges to generate risk-adjusted returns. At the peak of his operation, he reportedly earned up to 2.7 million yuan in a single day, showcasing both the profitability and scalability of algorithmic trading in early crypto markets.
What set Zhao apart was not just profit volume, but innovation. He developed one of the earliest automated trading systems—the JUA Arbitrage Wealth Management Project—which leveraged robotic trading bots to execute cross-exchange transactions with precision and speed.
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This product became a sensation in China’s crypto community:
- In January 2015, the third round of Zhao Guofeng JUA Arbitrage Fund raised 4,500 BTC, fully subscribed within just 11 minutes and 14 seconds.
- By June 2015, a joint overseas launch attracted 1,000 BTC in funding, snapped up entirely in 11 seconds—a testament to investor confidence and market demand.
These milestones underscored a growing appetite for structured, tech-driven investment vehicles in the decentralized space—a trend Zhao helped pioneer.
Building Bitcoin World: A Global Blockchain Ecosystem
By 2017, Zhao shifted focus from short-term gains to long-term infrastructure. That year, he founded Bitcoin World, a comprehensive blockchain technology company with three core pillars:
- Global Cryptocurrency Mining Farms
- BitcoinWorld.com – One of the world’s largest OTC (over-the-counter) cryptocurrency exchanges
- BITV Live – A blockchain-focused live streaming platform with over one million followers
Bitcoin World quickly became a key node in the global crypto economy. Its OTC platform enabled large-volume trades without market slippage, while BITV fostered community engagement through real-time education and project promotion.
That same year, Bitcoin World partnered with AIChain (智链) to launch its ICO on August 31, marking one of the early integrations between established platforms and emerging AI-blockchain ventures. The collaboration highlighted Zhao’s ability to identify and support next-generation technologies.
Leading the Charge in Mining: Scale and Sustainability
Mining has always been central to Zhao’s strategy. At one point, he operated 13,000 mining rigs in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, positioning his facility among the top 10 largest mining farms in China.
“The mining landscape is consolidating,” Zhao observed in interviews. “Small operators are disappearing.”
He noted that miners with fewer than 30 machines have largely exited the market due to rising costs—particularly electricity and cooling. With Bitcoin’s price volatility and increasing network difficulty, only those with economies of scale can survive.
“Today’s sustainable miners run at least 50 to 100 machines,” he said. “The era of bedroom mining is over.”
Most large-scale operations are now concentrated in regions with natural advantages:
- Low-cost hydropower in Sichuan
- Cold climates in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia, reducing cooling expenses
- Access to bulk power agreements
According to Zhao, around 50% of global Bitcoin hash rate still originates from China, thanks to these competitive advantages—even amid regulatory scrutiny.
RFund and the BTW Hard Fork: Vision for Decentralized Finance
In December 2017, Zhao co-launched RichFund (RFund), one of the world’s first institutional-grade arbitrage funds built exclusively for cryptocurrency markets. Alongside the Bitcoin World Foundation, RFund announced a bold move: a hard fork of Bitcoin at block height 499,777, resulting in a new chain called BTW (Bitcoin World).
Key features of BTW included:
- GPU-friendly mining algorithm (democratizing access)
- 8MB block size (up from Bitcoin’s 1MB limit)
- Total supply of 210 billion coins
- Airdrop distribution at a 1:10,000 ratio to existing BTC holders
While BTW did not achieve mainstream adoption, the initiative reflected Zhao’s belief in scalable, inclusive blockchain networks—where average users could participate without prohibitive hardware costs.
Expanding Borders: Huobi Korea and EOS Node Campaigns
Zhao’s international ambitions culminated in 2018 when he was appointed CEO of Huobi Korea, launching the exchange in Sanya on March 30. The move signaled China’s crypto talent expanding into regulated international markets amid domestic tightening.
Later that year, Zhao’s Bitcoin World teamed up with F2Pool (Fish Pool) to campaign for an EOS super node, joining over 100 global teams competing for validation rights on the nascent EOS network. Though node elections were highly competitive, the partnership demonstrated Zhao’s ongoing influence in consensus-layer infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who is Zhao Guofeng?
A: Zhao Guofeng is a prominent Chinese blockchain entrepreneur known for founding Bitcoin World, launching one of the earliest Bitcoin arbitrage funds (RFund), and serving as CEO of Huobi Korea. He played a key role in early cryptocurrency trading automation and large-scale mining operations.
Q: What is Bitcoin World?
A: Bitcoin World is a blockchain technology company founded by Zhao Guofeng in 2017. It operates global mining farms, runs one of the largest OTC crypto exchanges (BitcoinWorld.com), and manages BITV, a live-streaming platform for blockchain content.
Q: How did Zhao Guofeng make money from Bitcoin?
A: He started with arbitrage trading using custom-built robotic systems that exploited price differences across exchanges. At his peak, he earned up to 2.7 million yuan per day. He later scaled into mining, fundraising, and launching blockchain infrastructure projects.
Q: Is Zhao Guofeng still active in crypto?
A: While less publicly visible since 2019, Zhao remains associated with long-term projects like RFund and Bitcoin World. He has reportedly relocated to Cambodia and continues to advise blockchain initiatives focused on decentralization and financial inclusion.
Q: What happened to BTW (Bitcoin World) after the hard fork?
A: The BTW chain launched with ambitious goals—larger blocks, GPU mining, mass airdrops—but failed to gain significant traction against dominant chains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, it remains a notable experiment in community-driven forks.
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Core Keywords
- Bitcoin arbitrage
- Cryptocurrency mining
- Blockchain entrepreneur
- Bitcoin World
- RFund
- OTC trading
- Hard fork
- EOS super node
Zhao Guofeng’s career embodies the transformation of cryptocurrency from niche speculation to structured digital finance. From silent algorithmic trades in Shenzhen apartments to leading multi-national blockchain ventures, his story offers valuable lessons in innovation, resilience, and strategic foresight.
As decentralized technologies continue maturing, pioneers like Zhao remind us that lasting impact comes not from quick profits—but from building the infrastructure that powers tomorrow’s economy.
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