Latest news with #KevinHe
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitlayer's BitVM Bridge Debuts Its Mainnet, Offers Trust-Minimized Bitcoin DeFi
Bitlayer's BitVM Bridge launched its mainnet on Wednesday, enabling bitcoin (BTC) liquidity for decentralized finance through a trust-minimized framework. The bridge keeps users' BTC safe by locking it in the BitVM smart contract that operates under the assumption that at least one honest market participant exists, ready to expose malicious attempts to move funds. This trust-minimized setup starkly contrasts traditional custodians that involve centralized custody or distributed custodianship. "Over the past year, we've dedicated significant resources to developing the BitVM bridge, and we're thrilled to finally deliver this milestone to the community," Bitlayer co-founder, Kevin He said in a press release shared with CoinDesk. "Post-mainnet deployment, our focus shifts to scaling asset compatibility and deepening integration with additional blockchain networks," He added. Central to Bitlayer is YBTC, a token that directly represents the user's locked bitcoin. Its value is pegged 1:1 with BTC, and it opens decentralized finance to BTC holders looking to generate additional yield by allowing them to stake, lend, borrow, trade and provide liquidity across multi-chain decentralized exchanges. The token's security stems directly from the transparent and verifiable BitVM smart contract – unlike wrapped BTC (such as WBTC), which relies on a trusted central entity to hold the actual BTC. Note that YBTC is distinct from Bitlayer's native token, BTR, which is used for governance, fees and staking within the ecosystem and is slated to be listed on major centralized exchanges. Typically, eliminating centralized custodians implies longer waiting times, especially in the case of fraud-proof systems like Bitlayer. Here, while transactions are assumed to be honest, anyone watching can step in to prove if something went wrong. To allow enough time for these crucial security checks, there's a built-in waiting period, typically seven days, during which a fraudulent transaction could be challenged. This can lead to longer withdrawal times. However, Bitlayer employs an innovative "front-and-reclaim" model, transferring the waiting period to specialized brokers or third-party liquidity providers. These entities provide the withdrawn BTC from their own funds to users within approximately one hour. Meanwhile, they wait for their original seven-day security period to end before getting their funds back from the smart contract. This approach offers both trustless security and a fast, convenient user experience. "There is a front mechanism in BitVM bridge design, the pegout user will get their BTC back at bitcoin block time," He told CoinDesk. "The waiting time will be left to the broker(operator)." Bitlayer is prioritizing integration with the Ethereum mainnet and major layer 2 solutions, as well as exploring Solana and Bitcoin-native layer 2s, such as Lightning Network applications. It has already secured integration with other leading ecosystems, including Sui, Base, Starknet, and Arbitrum, Sonic, Plume Network and Sundial. "Our goal is to make YBTC universally accessible wherever significant DeFi liquidity exists, enabling bitcoin to flow securely and seamlessly into diverse ecosystems," BitLayer's team told CoinDesk. The team added that it plans to establish a security committee, release audit reports and conduct bug bounties and open-source their code, creating a roadmap that positions BitLayer's BitVM Bridge as a crucial piece of infrastructure for BTC's future in in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
South China Morning Post
29-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Simon Wang goes 33rd overall to Sharks, making history as highest-drafted player born in China
Simon Wang became the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday. Wang's family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12. The 6ft 5in defenceman surged forward in his development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks with the 33rd overall selection. 'It's an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China,' Wang said. 'Just a really surreal moment, a dream-come-true moment … I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home.' His real name is Wang Haoxi, but said he planned to go by Simon during his hockey career because 'it's simpler for North Americans'. Wang is only the third Chinese-born player drafted by the NHL, but he knows he won't be the last. Kevin He was drafted 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets last year, and Andong Song was chosen 172nd by the New York Islanders in 2015. Simon Wang poses with his mother on the red carpet before the NHL draft in Los Angeles. Photo: AP 'Hopefully one day my record will get broken again,' Wang said. 'Someone will go in the first round, even top 10. I think there will definitely be someone that's going to make a huge impact on the game.'
Al Arabiya
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Simon Wang Goes 33rd Overall to Sharks, Making History as Highest-Drafted Player Born in China
Simon Wang became the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday. Wang's family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12. The 6-foot-5 defenseman surged forward in his development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks with the 33rd overall selection. 'It's an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China,' Wang said. 'Just a really surreal moment, a dream-come-true moment. … I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home.' For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. His real name is Haoxi Wang, but he plans to go by Simon during his hockey career because 'it's simpler for North Americans,' he said. Wang is only the third Chinese-born player ever drafted by the NHL, but he knows he won't be the last. Kevin He was drafted 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets last year, and Andong Song was chosen 172nd by the New York Islanders in 2015. 'Hopefully one day my record will get broken again,' Wang said. 'Someone will go in the first round, even top 10. I think there will definitely be someone that's going to make a huge impact on the game.' Wang aspires to be an imposing two-way defenseman in the mold of Victor Hedman or Colton Parayko, but he had little draft buzz until the start of last season when teams began to take notice of his rapidly developing skills. He soon joined the OHL's Oshawa Generals and got even more exposure during their playoff run. 'Seeing so many scouts in the Junior A barn, it just started hitting me,' Wang said. 'The summer before the season I thought I was going undrafted, to be honest with you. But it happened for a reason, and I worked so hard for this. I deserve to be here.' Wang got into hockey as a child, but he didn't truly embrace the game until his family took a trip to Los Angeles eight years ago. The 10-year-old attended a Kings game right across the street from where he was drafted–although he fell asleep during the game, he recalls with a laugh. Wang then attended a Bruins–Flames game played in Beijing in 2018, and he soon decided to move to Canada to further his development. Wang walked the red carpet in Los Angeles on Friday with his mother, who propelled his career–and even bought and moved his former junior team. He also got his first chance in nearly two years to see his brother, who studied at Boston University, where Wang might play college hockey starting in 2026 if next year in Oshawa goes well. The NHL is concluding its decentralized draft with the final six rounds at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. After minimal player movement Friday, while Matthew Schaefer became the No. 1 overall pick, several significant trades were executed Saturday, with longtime Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson going to Detroit while defenseman Jordan Spence went from Los Angeles to Ottawa.
Associated Press
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Simon Wang goes 33rd overall to Sharks, making history as highest-drafted player born in China
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Simon Wang became the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday. Wang's family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12. The 6-foot-5 defenseman surged forward in his development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks with the 33rd overall selection. 'It's an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China,' Wang said. 'Just a really surreal moment, a dream-come-true moment. ... I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home.' His real name is Haoxi Wang, but he plans to go by Simon during his hockey career because 'it's simpler for North Americans,' he said. Wang is only the third Chinese-born player ever drafted by the NHL, but he knows he won't be the last. Kevin He was drafted 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets last year, and Andong Song was chosen 172nd by the New York Islanders in 2015. 'Hopefully one day my record will get broken again,' Wang said. 'Someone will go in the first round, even top 10. I think there will definitely be someone that's going to make a huge impact on the game.' Wang aspires to be an imposing two-way defenseman in the mold of Victor Hedman or Colton Parayko, but he had little draft buzz until the start of last season, when teams began to take notice of his rapidly developing skills. He soon joined the OHL's Oshawa Generals and got even more exposure during their playoff run. 'Seeing so many scouts in the Junior A barn, it just started hitting me,' Wang said. 'The summer before the season, I thought I was going undrafted, to be honest with you. But it happened for a reason, and I worked so hard for this. I deserve to be here.' Wang got into hockey as a child, but he didn't truly embrace the game until his family took a trip to Los Angeles eight years ago. The 10-year-old attended a Kings game right across the street from where he was drafted — although he fell asleep during the game, he recalls with a laugh. Wang then attended a Bruins-Flames game played in Beijing in 2018, and he soon decided to move to Canada to further his development. Wang walked the red carpet in Los Angeles on Friday with his mother, who propelled his career — and even bought and moved his former junior team. He also got his first chance in nearly two years to see his brother, who studied at Boston University, where Wang might play college hockey starting in 2026 if next year in Oshawa goes well. The NHL is concluding its decentralized draft with the final six rounds at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. After minimal player movement Friday while Matthew Schaefer became the No. 1 overall pick, several significant trades were executed Saturday, with longtime Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson going to Detroit while defenseman Jordan Spence went from Los Angeles to Ottawa. ___ AP NHL:
NBC Sports
24-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Haoxi Wang's journey from Beijing to Canada sets him to become 3rd Chinese-born player picked in NHL draft
Invited to watch his first hockey practice at an ice rink in Beijing, Haoxi Wang was no different than any impressionable, wide-eyed 4-year-old being fascinated by the equipment the players wore. They resembled superheroes with sticks, uniforms and bulging pads, their faces hidden behind helmeted cages. This was before the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, when hockey was a niche sport in China and the NHL a mere pipe dream. 'It was definitely the gear,' the 6-foot-5, 215-pound — and still growing — defenseman who goes by Simon recalled at the NHL pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo. 'Something just clicked inside of me, and I just fell in love with the game,' Wang added. 'Right away, I told my mom I need to get out there as soon as possible. And I probably went on the ice the next day or so.' This marked the start of a journey that saw a 12-year-old Wang move to Toronto and work his way up the junior ranks to play for the OHL Oshawa Generals. At 17, he is considered a candidate to be an early to mid-round pick in the NHL draft in Los Angeles. 'I think this is a dream come true moment for me,' said Wang, ranked 34th on NHL Central Scouting's list of North American skaters. 'If I told myself four, five years ago that I'll be here, the NHL combine, I'd probably tell myself I'm dreaming.' He's not. Based on Wang's size and skating ability, there's likely to be even more pinch-me moments ahead for someone in position to become just the third Chinese-born player — and potentially highest — selected in the NHL draft. Short list of Chinese players drafted Andong Song, chosen 172nd overall by the New York Islanders in 2015, was the first Chinese-born player drafted. Song never played professionally following two seasons with the USHL's Madison Capitols. Then there's Kevin He, also from Beijing, who is on path to playing in the NHL. Drafted 109th by Winnipeg last year, He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Jets in December. Kevin He had the advantage of playing organized hockey at 6 when his family moved to Montreal. By comparison, Wang's true introduction to the sport competitively came with his arrival in Toronto at the urging of a friend who made the move earlier to pursue hockey. It was a culture shock for Wang, who left his family behind and couldn't speak English. 'I think courage would be the word, I would describe it,' Oshawa general manager Roger Hunt said. 'The only language he knew was hockey. And he wanted to play. And he had the vision at that age to say, 'Hey, if I want to do this, I better go there.'' Wang proved to be a quick study. Though raw, his ability almost immediately caught everyone's attention. The only question for Hunt in selecting Wang in the fifth round of the 2023 OHL 16-year-old draft was his eligibility in having already committed to Boston University. The NCAA previously barred CHL players from competing at the college ranks before eliminating its rule in November. OHL debut with Oshawa Wang made his debut with Oshawa in December. Though he finished with a modest five assists in 53 games on a team that lost to London in the OHL finals, Wang did not look out of place. 'I don't think anybody would have went into that arena and said, 'Hey, this kid's only played hockey five years,'' Hunt said. 'He's got such good feet, he skates so well, his edges, everything.' Next year, Hunt projects Wang to take on a larger role as Oshawa's top defenseman. Wang is ahead of schedule, in part due to the NCAA rule change. The initial plan last season, his agent John Walters said, was to have Wang stay in the OJHL, where he was already showing signs of dominating with four goals and 22 points in 38 games. Walters said it was at Wang's urging to make the jump to OHL to spur his development against better competition. 'I had a couple of NHL teams saying, 'You should have left him in junior, because there would have been that wonderment about him.' And I said, 'But that wouldn't have made him better,'' Walters said. 'Simon doesn't care whether he goes in the first, second or third round. He wants to get better. He needed to go challenge himself.' It was Walters who took Wang under his wing early after his arrival in Canada, with Walters' father chauffeuring the player to practices and games. Another benefit was Wang's mother, Willa, who was so inspired by her son's passion for hockey, she became an ice-rink developer in China and she eventually purchased the Ontario Junior Hockey League team where her son played. The plan for Wang now is to compete in the OHL next season before making the jump to Boston University, where his older brother completed his post-graduate studies. 'When I was 12, I had a very naive belief in me that I'm going to make it,' he said. 'But I'm here right now and not taking any moment for granted. I'm still learning, and I might be still behind a lot of guys, but my potential and what I can become as a player, that's what's really exciting about me.'
