Blockchain technology company Huobi Group is celebrating its 8th-year anniversary with a slew of events and giveaways — including a space trip “to the outer perimeters of Earth” — and a focus on expanding its global footprint, according to a company announcement.

Fast facts

  • Huobi’s exit from China will hit the company hard in terms of revenue in the short-term, but the company says its business outside of China already accounts for 70% of trading volumes, with that proportion on the rise. As part of its global expansion strategy, the company has set its sights on emerging markets like Brazil and Turkey, and plans to grow its employee count from 2,300 to 3,000 by the end of the year.
  • “The blockchain and cryptocurrency industry is developing at a rapid pace and I expect to see new cutting-edge developments evolve alongside it,” said Du Jun, Huobi Group co-founder. “Moving forward, we will continue to expand our global footprint to introduce innovative products and localized services.”
  • Founded in 2013, Huobi Group has expanded into public blockchains, digital assets trading, wallets, mining pools, as well as digital asset research and investments. It has invested in over 60 companies in the blockchain industry, according to the company.
  • Earlier this week, Huobi Group announced the launch of its non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, which will enable users to buy NFT artworks, collectibles and other digital items. The company said the NFT marketplace marked a key milestone in its metaverse strategy, which includes Huobi Ventures’ recent launch of a US$10 million GameFi fund.
  • Huobi Group will host its annual online industry forum “Huobi Summit 2021: Blockchain and Beyond” on Nov. 8. The speakers at this year’s event include former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan.

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