Teng Yan Yau is a crypto and AI researcher with experience in healthcare technology and decentralized systems. He is the founder and chief evangelist of Chain of Thought, a research firm providing insights into crypto and AI. ^[1]

Education

Yau graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 2007. He later earned his Master’s degree in 2014. ^[2]

Career

Yau began his career as a senior resident at MOH Holdings from May 2008 to April 2015, working at institutions including Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, and the National Cancer Center. During this period, he gained extensive clinical experience in various healthcare settings. From March 2009 to July 2010, he was a healthcare staff officer (captain) with the Singapore Armed Forces. He contributed to medical policy formulation, coordinated reviews of health programs, and supported pandemic response efforts during the H1N1 outbreak.

In February 2015, as chief medical officer, Yau joined Holmusk, a digital health and data science company. He led healthcare professionals in leveraging technology, data, and behavioral science to address mental health and chronic diseases while managing operations at the Singapore headquarters. In August 2020, he transitioned to the role of chief of digital therapeutics at Holmusk, overseeing the business and product strategies for the company’s digital solutions, including tools for managing chronic and mental health conditions. He held this position until July 2021. Subsequently, he served as an advisor to the company from July to September 2021.

In December 2021, Yau became head of NFT and consumer research at Delphi Digital, where he worked until August 2024. In May 2024, he founded Chain of Thought and assumed the role of chief evangelist, focusing on initiatives related to the company’s mission. ^{[2] [3]}

Chain of Thought

Yau founded Chain of Thought in May 2024 as its chief evangelist. Chain of Thought is a trusted research firm that provides high-quality, actionable insights into the crypto AI sector. Its mission is to contribute to the growth of decentralized intelligence while maintaining research excellence, objectivity, and a high standard of rigor. The company focuses on advancing the intersection of crypto and artificial intelligence (AI) by fostering collaboration among investors, startups, builders, and users to drive innovation in decentralized AI. 

Chain of Thought offers a range of resources and services to advance knowledge and collaboration in crypto AI. Its weekly AI newsletter updates readers on key developments, ensuring they stay informed. The platform also features an ultimate crypto AI primer, a curated resource collection designed to deepen understanding of AI.

The company delivers focused reports on areas such as AI agents, decentralized computing, and data networks through thesis and sector analysis. It also provides protocol research, simplifying complex technical documents into accessible summaries to support informed decision-making. Additionally, Chain of Thought offers a crypto AI token tracker, highlighting promising tokens with real-time price feeds. ^[4]  

Interviews

NFT Trends

This episode of The Open Metaverse Podcast by Animoca Brands, hosted by Mehtab Farooq, featured Yau. They explored key NFT trends for 2023. Yau shared his journey from a background in healthcare data analytics to becoming an NFT specialist, citing early interest in blockchain technology and significant experiences during the 2020 DeFi boom and the emergence of NFTs. The discussion highlighted pivotal developments in the NFT space, including the growth of NFT finance, the rise of Solana’s NFT ecosystem, debates over creator royalties, and the potential for perpetual derivatives in NFT trading. They emphasized the evolving dynamics of NFT marketplaces and the impact of AI on blockchain technology, positioning NFTs as a transformative force across industries. ^[5]

NFT Collections

On The Collectoors Podcast, Yau shared his insights on NFTs and the Web3 ecosystem. He described his journey from encountering cryptocurrencies in 2017 to becoming deeply involved in NFTs by 2020. Initially intrigued by speculative trading, his interest shifted to exploring NFTs' cultural and artistic aspects. At Delphi Digital, Yau focused on NFT research, analyzing trends in art, gaming, and collectibles while emphasizing the evolving market dynamics, such as the impact of belief rates and the competition between marketplaces like Blur and OpenSea. He highlighted the resilience of generative art during market downturns due to its inherent value and lack of reliance on roadmaps. Yau also discussed the diversification of NFT marketplaces into niche sectors, suggesting a future where verticalized platforms cater to specific user needs and experiences. ^[6]

Panels

TEDx Talk

In May 2017, Yau reflected on his decade-long career as a doctor in his TEDx talk, emphasizing healthcare challenges, especially in addressing chronic diseases like diabetes. He described how traditional healthcare systems, focused on clinics and hospitals, often fall short in supporting patients, particularly during the 99% of their time spent away from medical professionals. He recounted leaving full-time clinical practice to co-found a company to leverage technology to enhance patient care. He introduced "Glyco," a mobile app that combines health tracking, personalized coaching, and artificial intelligence to promote sustainable lifestyle changes. Sharing patient success stories, he called for innovation and collaboration in healthcare, advocating a shift from reactive "sick care" to proactive health management. ^[7]

NFT Due Diligence

At NFT NYC 2022, Yau participated in the "NFT Due Diligence: Everything You Need to Know" panel featured industry professionals discussing key considerations for evaluating NFT projects. Speakers included Amber Treshnell, David Mokos, and Gavriel Blaxburg. Before investing, they emphasized assessing factors like social media engagement, roadmap feasibility, utility, intellectual property rights, and smart contracts. The discussion highlighted how tools and metrics, such as real-time trading data and community dynamics, are critical in determining a project's viability. Speakers also addressed the evolution of NFT trading, noting increased market sophistication and competition, particularly for profile picture (PFP) collections. They explored concepts like social capital, entertainment, and utility as critical axes for evaluating PFP projects, emphasizing the importance of understanding liquidity, competitive advantages, and long-term sustainability in the rapidly evolving NFT landscape. ^[8]