From Math Genius to Crypto Assets Trading Master: The Legendary Journey of Kevin Zhou

Kevin Zhou is a well-known trader and investor in the Crypto Assets field, recognized for his unique market insights and exceptional trading performance. Since entering the Bitcoin market in 2011, Zhou's personal account has grown at a compound rate of approximately 100% per year. The hedge fund he founded, Galois Capital, achieved a 35% compound growth rate over five years, with assets reaching $250 million. This fund, which employs a market-neutral strategy, has only experienced losses in four months, and its maximum monthly drawdown does not exceed 1% (excluding the FTX incident).

Zhou was born in Shanghai and immigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of three. His childhood was marked by poverty, and this experience deeply influenced his attitude towards money. Zhou showed exceptional mathematical talent from a young age, being able to study calculus with college students by the age of 11. However, he later became obsessed with video games, particularly enjoying trading activities within the games, which may have been an early sign of his future career as a trader.

During his university years, Zhou majored in Mathematics and Economics. After graduation, he worked as a quantitative analyst at a rating agency. In 2011, he started getting involved with Bitcoin and gradually invested all his available funds. In 2013, Zhou joined the YC-incubated exchange Buttercoin. Although this startup ultimately failed, it provided him with valuable experience.

After that, Zhou joined the Kraken exchange, responsible for establishing the over-the-counter (OTC) desk. During his time at Kraken, he experienced the company's difficult periods and subsequent rapid growth. In 2017, Zhou left Kraken to found Galois Capital. This fund adopts a market-neutral strategy, initially profiting mainly through OTC business and basis trading, and later participated in the DeFi boom, becoming one of the main participants in Yearn Finance.

Zhou demonstrated exceptional trading insights during major market events such as the Ethereum merge and the Luna crash. During the Luna incident, Galois Capital achieved considerable profits through precise short-selling strategies. However, Zhou also stated that if he had been more decisive at that time, he could have earned even more.

Regarding the future of the Crypto Assets market, Zhou believes that trading is becoming increasingly difficult, but opportunities still exist. He firmly believes in the long-term value of Bitcoin while maintaining a cautious attitude towards other Crypto Assets. Zhou advises young people to have confidence, but at the same time, to remain skeptical and be ready to overturn their conclusions.

Looking back on his career, Zhou believes it has been a journey filled with both achievements and regrets. He stated that if he could say something to his younger self, it would be to start a business earlier and invest more in Bitcoin. Despite having achieved significant success, Zhou still maintains his passion and insight into the market, believing that there are more opportunities waiting to be explored in this rapidly evolving industry.