Ray Chan
Ray Chan Chin-ching (陳展程) is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the global social media and entertainment platform 9GAG. Chan has since expanded his work into the Web3 sector, founding the venture studio Memeland and serving as the Chairman and CEO of MemeStrategy Inc., a publicly listed virtual asset company.
Early Life
Chan was born in Hong Kong in 1984 and grew up in a public housing estate. From an early age, he developed an interest in technology and media. [1]
Education
Ray Chan attended the University of Hong Kong, where he studied in the Faculty of Law and earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree between 2003 and 2006. During his time at the university, he was an active participant in extracurricular activities, serving as the captain of the debate teams for both the University of Hong Kong and its residential college, Ricci Hall. [2] [3] [1]
Career
Chan's career path transitioned from law and media to technology and entrepreneurship. After graduating, he worked briefly in the legal department of a bank before moving into media, where he was an anchor and reporter for Now TV. He later held positions as a project manager at an information technology company and as a product manager for the social cataloging website aNobii, which he joined in 2007. Before achieving success, Chan attempted to launch two websites, one for sharing cosmetics and another for information on electrical appliances, both of which failed, which served as a basis for later work with cryptocurrencies. [1] [3]
9GAG
In 2008, while still employed at aNobii, Chan co-founded 9GAG with four partners as a side project. The platform was initially created as an efficient way for the founders to share humorous images. The name "9GAG" is derived from a Cantonese term that translates to "make a bad joke." The site's early content was primarily Cantonese-based but quickly attracted an international audience, which Chan attributed to the universal nature of visual humor. In response, the platform shifted to more English and image-heavy content. [4]
Chan quit his job in 2011 to focus on 9GAG full-time. The company participated in the accelerator programs of Y Combinator and 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups), securing $2.8 million in seed funding. Under Chan's leadership as CEO, 9GAG grew into a major global brand in internet culture, amassing a global audience of over 200 million followers across its social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). In 2020, the company transitioned to a fully remote work model, eliminating its physical office. [1] [3] [5]
Expansion into Web3: Memeland
In 2022, Chan launched Memeland, a Web3-focused venture studio spun out of 9GAG. Memeland was created to build and invest in social products that incorporate community ownership through blockchain technology, NFTs, and GameFi. The project's mission is to bridge the gap between 9GAG's large Web2 audience and the emerging Web3 ecosystem. [6] [7]
One of Memeland's most notable projects was the launch of Memecoin (MEME) in late 2023. The launch was structured with a gradual token release and an 18-month vesting schedule for early participants, a strategy designed to foster price stability and encourage long-term community engagement. [8]
MemeStrategy Inc.
Chan further solidified his move into the digital asset space in April 2025 when he acquired a controlling stake in Howking Technology International Holdings Limited, a company publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX: 2440). He was appointed Chairman and CEO and initiated the process of rebranding the company to MemeStrategy Inc. The venture is positioned as Asia's first publicly listed virtual asset ecosystem, with a strategic focus on three pillars: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and Culture. [9]
MemeStrategy's business plan includes incorporating Bitcoin and other virtual assets into its corporate treasury, investing in Web3 and AI projects, and developing initiatives for the creator economy. The company's board includes key members from 9GAG and Memeland, as well as notable independent non-executive directors such as Sandy Peng, co-founder of Scroll, and Wesley Ng, co-founder and CEO of CASETiFY. [10]
Angel Investments
Chan is also an active angel investor in the Web3 sector. His investment portfolio includes a range of startups focused on gaming, decentralized finance (DeFi), and blockchain infrastructure. Some of his notable investments include:
- Pixelmon: An open-world RPG NFT game.
- Thruster: A native decentralized exchange (DEX) on the Blast network.
- Zentry: A "Gaming Superlayer" designed to integrate loyalty systems and gamer identities.
- Frame: An Ethereum Layer 2 rollup focused on creator royalties.
- Chillchat: A pixel art NFT metaverse.
These investments reflect his focus on supporting the growth of the broader digital asset ecosystem. [11]
Board and Advisory Roles
Outside of his primary ventures, Chan serves in several advisory capacities. Since 2022, he has been an Honorary Advisor for World Vision Hong Kong, a global humanitarian organization. He has also served as a Board Member for the Hong Kong Genome Institute, an organization focused on genomic medicine, since 2020. [2]
Philosophy and Views
Chan has publicly shared his perspectives on entrepreneurship, company culture, and the evolution of the internet. He prioritizes hiring individuals with "great character," stating that technical skills can be taught while personality is inherent. For 9GAG's culture, he values empathy over humor, as the platform's goal is to "touch people's emotions." [4]
Regarding his work in Web3, Chan has emphasized the need for sustainable, community-focused growth. In a 2023 talk, he stated, "We don’t need more investors in Web3. We need more customers." He views blockchain as a tool to create a new "ownership layer" for the internet, redefining the relationship between creators and their fans by giving them a tangible stake in the communities they support. [7]
He has also been candid about the difficulties of innovating in the space, noting the contradictory pressures from the community. In one social media post, he wrote:
"IT'S DAMN HARD TO BUILD IN WEB3. When you try something new, people ask you to repeat the old things. When you repeat the old things, people ask you to try something new." [6]
Personal Life
Chan has spoken publicly about personal challenges, including the loss of his first son. He has stated that this experience provided him with a profound sense of perspective on other professional and personal issues, reinforcing his resilience. He has expressed a desire to be remembered as a "good person who made a difference" for his family and community. [12] [13]
Awards and Recognition
Chan's work in technology and media has received recognition from several industry publications.