13 years ago, wrote a Bitcoin popular science article; now the company he founded has been acquired by Meta: How accurate is Xiao Hong's vision?

From a university freshman writing Bitcoin educational articles on forums to founding an AI company acquired by Meta for approximately $2.5 billion, Manus founder Xiao Hong has spent 13 years demonstrating what “long-termism” truly means. This is not only a personal story but also reflects the deep integration of the two hottest tracks in crypto and AI.

From Bitcoin Evangelist to AI Entrepreneur

According to information discovered by user @X, in November 2013, Xiao Hong, just entering university, published a long Bitcoin educational article on “Otherworldly Software World”: “What is Bitcoin? How to Use It? Bitcoin Wallet Client Download.” At that time, Bitcoin was far from becoming a mainstream topic. Xiao Hong’s ability to systematically write educational articles in his freshman year shows he was a true early believer, not a bandwagon jumper.

Even more interesting is the Bitcoin address he left at the end of the article. This seemingly simple act reveals two pieces of information: first, his confidence in Bitcoin was strong enough to openly state his position; second, he was willing to accept direct tips from readers. Such interaction was uncommon on Chinese the internet 13 years ago.

According to news data, this address received a total of 0.02231 BTC in tips over 11 years. At the current Bitcoin price of $93,500, this tip is now worth about $2,000. From an investment return perspective, this is not only a good financial gain but also validates Xiao Hong’s judgment on new technology.

From Personal Belief to Corporate Achievement

Now, 13 years later, Xiao Hong has upgraded from a Bitcoin evangelist to an AI startup founder. According to reports, Meta has just announced the acquisition of Manus, which is Meta’s third-largest acquisition since its founding, valued at about $2.5 billion.

This shift is significant beyond the monetary figure. Manus is described as a startup developing general AI agents, with capabilities reportedly surpassing OpenAI’s Deep Research model. More importantly, Manus’s success represents a new model of going global—through thorough organizational restructuring, transforming from a Chinese-background startup into a recognized “standard component” within the global industry system.

From Bitcoin to AI, Xiao Hong’s chosen path is clear: he has always tracked foundational technologies capable of changing the world. If Bitcoin in 2013 represented the potential of decentralized finance, then AI Agents in 2026 symbolize a new stage of autonomous intelligence.

The Broader Trend Reflected

Xiao Hong’s story is not an isolated case. Reports indicate that Meta’s emphasis on AI Agents is unmistakable—if large models are the “brain” of AI, then Agents are its “hands.” AI is evolving from Chat (dialogue) to Work (action).

More notably, the fact that Chinese startups like Manus can attract top Silicon Valley giants shows that China’s innovation in AI applications has gained international recognition. This is a stark contrast to the era 13 years ago when Bitcoin was still a niche topic.

From Xiao Hong’s personal choices, we see that he made the right bets in two different eras. Behind this ability is a profound understanding of technological development directions and enough patience to wait for these technologies to move from the fringes to the mainstream.

Summary

Xiao Hong’s story offers several perspectives worth pondering: First, early involvement in revolutionary technology often yields long-term compound returns; second, true entrepreneurs are not just trend chasers but those who can cross different tracks and recognize underlying commonalities; finally, upgrading from personal belief to corporate achievement requires continuous learning ability and forward-looking judgment about the future.

From a Bitcoin educational author in 2013 to the founder of a 2026 AI unicorn, Xiao Hong has proven in 13 years a simple truth: if your vision is right, time will give you the best returns.