We recently connected with Sunny Lu, the CEO of VeChain, a blockchain-powered network that transforms everyday positive actions into verified, tradable digital assets.
By enabling greater transparency, trust, and inclusivity, VeChain allows for conscious consumers, ethical builders, and better businesses to scale social and environmental impact; rewarding actions that aim to benefit humanity while meeting regulatory and sustainability goals around the world.
Sunny Lu has touched on some key objectives that his team aims to focus on in the year ahead, along with providing some insights on approaching the ongoing developments in the web3 space.
Crowdfund Insider: As we close out the year, what are some core objectives your team will prioritize in 2026?
Sunny Lu: As we close out the year, our core objective for 2026 will be to continue building real-world blockchain applications that demonstrate the technology’s utility beyond speculation. VeChain is making sustainability personal for individuals and investable for ESG-conscious actors, working with major partners like UFC and 4Ocean.
This includes driving growth in adoption of VeBetter.com and VeBetter apps, such as MugShot, that rewards users for using recyclable cups, or GreenCart, which incentivizes sustainable grocery shopping, paired with simple on-chain pathways that provide access to the VeChain staking platform—which already has $137 million in TVL.
These actions reflect our commitment to pairing on-chain incentives with tangible environmental impact, while continuing to grow our ecosystem of more than 5.5 million users across 114+ countries. Looking ahead, we aim to expand these sustainability-focused applications and partnerships, further embedding blockchain as a tool for measurable positive climate action.
Crowdfund Insider: What are the challenges and lessons of building and scaling an altcoin from the ground up?
Sunny Lu: Building VeChain has come with many unique challenges. One of the earliest hurdles was figuring out what blockchain could actually do beyond Bitcoin and learning to convince businesses and investors that the technology could deliver real-world impact.
Persistence and a focus on utility have been essential lessons, as it is far easier to participate in mining or trading than to develop a sustainable ecosystem with meaningful adoption. We managed to land some use cases in the supply chain sector with one of the leading global fashion brands and began scaling up from there.
Crowdfund Insider: How do founders balance technological innovation, real-world adoption, and regulatory compliance?
Sunny Lu: Our approach has always been business-led—we built our protocol from the ground up with consideration for how traditional enterprise and business users operate. Our guiding philosophy is to ensure that every application we build addresses real-world needs in some way, while maintaining alignment with the technical and user experience needs.
We have to meet builders and users where they are, not expect them to take a leap into the unfamiliar Web3 territory. While regulatory strategy was not detailed in this conversation, it is implicitly central to building solutions that businesses can rely on at scale.
Crowdfund Insider: What are your insights into leading a blockchain project through market volatility, institutional interest, and ecosystem growth?
Sunny Lu: Growth in any fast-moving industry requires a clear strategy, patience, and staying mission-driven. Having navigated multiple market cycles, we have learned that the most valuable projects are those that persist through bearish periods and continue to innovate even when headlines focus on ETFs, trading, or liquidity.
VeChain is built for real-world utility and creating impact for businesses, builders, and individuals. Even if the ‘market’ is not talking about this right now, we know it’s the path they follow for sustainability and the long-term success of our ecosystem. Furthermore, institutional engagement is encouraged when it drives tangible adoption rather than mere speculation.
Crowdfund Insider: What does a day in the life of a crypto founder really look like — managing teams, partnerships, and strategic vision?
Sunny Lu: A day in the life of a crypto founder involves bridging technology, personal, and business relationships. Maintaining a close understanding of the technology and steering strategic partnerships are essential for growth.
I continue to approach my role with an engineer’s mentality, staying deeply involved in the technology while supporting the various internal teams and guiding the long-term vision for practical blockchain applications with real utility. All in all, it’s a busy day, but I wouldn’t change it.
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