{"id":"bobby-lee","title":"Bobby Lee","content":"**Bobby Lee** is a technology entrepreneur and [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) executive known for his early involvement in the [digital asset](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) industry. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Ballet and previously co-founded and led BTCC, one of the earliest [bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) exchanges in China. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-wisWSNqTgNTYH37u) \n\n## Education\n\nLee attended Stanford University, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Computer Science in 1997 and his Master’s the following year. He later graduated from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) with an MBA in 2013. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-NGD1FQvRdWvqtDwP) \n\n## Career\n\nLee began his career through software engineering and research internships at IBM, Microsoft, and Silicon Spice during the 1990s. In 1998, he joined Yahoo!, where he spent more than eight years and advanced to senior engineering manager, working on online community and social platform products, including Yahoo! Groups.\n\nAfter leaving Yahoo!, Lee relocated to China and held a series of senior technology leadership positions. From 2007 to 2009, he served as Director of Software Engineering at EMC Corporation's China Center of Excellence. He then became Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of BesTV New Media, a subsidiary of the Shanghai Media Group, before joining Walmart China eCommerce as Vice President of Technology. During this period, he also served as treasurer and board member of the Stanford Club of Shanghai from 2011 to 2014.\n\nIn 2013, Lee co-founded BTCC, originally established as BTCChina, and served as its chief executive officer until 2018. Under his leadership, the company expanded its activities across [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) exchange services, [mining](https://iq.wiki/wiki/mining), wallets, payment processing, and other [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain)-related products. Since 2014, he has served on the board of directors of the [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) Foundation. In 2019, he founded Ballet and has served as its chief executive officer, focusing on [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) storage and self-custody solutions. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-XC8MUbFZm4lBDZyB)  [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-jFWQZ8yYkOwZs0py) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=hzLNVby9gP0)\n\n## Interviews\n\n### Bitcoin Break\n\nOn Insights with Haslinda Amin in February 2026, Lee discussed the high volatility of [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin), attributing it largely to trading activities in spot exchanges, derivatives, futures, and options markets, especially as the bull market appeared to be over. He predicted that [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) could break below the key 50,000 or 20,000–$25,000 range before bottoming out. He recommended buying [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) gradually during dips and noted that market sentiment often shifts only when [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) is considered \"dead\" by many, which could mark the lowest point for a rebound. Ultimately, Lee remained bullish on [Bitcoin's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) long-term prospects, viewing current downturns as opportunities to accumulate at lower prices and emphasizing the importance of patience amidst market cycles. [\\[7\\]](#cite-id-m6lZAiqDo6q57Vzt) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZRj4PmlPv6Q)\n\n### Bitcoin Regulations\n\nOn the [CryptoNews](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptonews) Spotlight podcast in July 2024, Lee shared his extensive journey in the [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) space, from his early involvement in [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) [mining](https://iq.wiki/wiki/mining) in 2011 to founding China's first [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) exchange, BTC China, which was later acquired. He discussed his passion for Bitcoin's similarity to gold—its scarcity and decentralization—and emphasized its potential as a global reserve asset. Lee highlighted the evolution of [cold storage](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cold-wallet) solutions, including his company's innovative physical [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) storage cards designed to be simple, reliable, and self-contained, safeguarding private keys without electronic components. He expressed optimism about the rapid growth of [Bitcoin ETFs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin-etfs), noting their significant impact on mainstream adoption and institutional inflows, especially in the U.S., which he predicted would propel [Bitcoin's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) valuation upward. Lee also commented on the contrasting regulatory environments in the U.S. and China, favoring the US's competitive, innovation-driven approach over China's centralized policies. Throughout, he underscored the importance of self-custody, proper storage, and strategic investing, urging individuals to consider [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) as a vital asset class for wealth preservation. He shared upcoming Ballet product launches, including smaller-denomination [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) cards available at the Nashville conference, and thanked his team and supporters, closing with a strong endorsement of [Bitcoin's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) transformative potential. [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-JWmwhZlllwCJjfod) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=twordtunN68)\n\n### Ballet\n\nIn an interview on the SatPulse podcast in September 2023, Lee emphasized the importance of self-custody in [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), highlighting how the industry had shifted toward reliance on custodial platforms, which he believed compromised the core principle of ownership, similar to precious metals like gold and silver. He shared Ballet Crypto's mission to empower individuals to own and securely store their cryptocurrencies through innovative products such as their Cold Storage card, which uses industry-standard two-factor entropy to generate private keys offline, ensuring security against hacks and theft. Lee detailed his extensive background in [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), including his leadership roles and dedication to maintaining a trustworthy reputation, which underpinned his commitment to creating reliable, long-lasting hardware solutions. He also discussed how Ballet’s products support multiple [cryptocurrencies](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) using open standards, allowing for independence from company reliance, and highlighted their resistance to technological obsolescence and EMP threats. Throughout the conversation, he expressed optimism regarding [Bitcoin’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) future, emphasizing the upcoming supply shock from halving events and the increasing institutional interest, which together suggested a potentially [bullish](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bullish) outlook for [Bitcoin’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) price. [\\[9\\]](#cite-id-H4Z24PoHP2spnIhu) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=VBUBlnx9nO8)\n\n## Presentations\n\n### Ownership & Custody\n\nAt the [Bitcoin Conference](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin-conference) in August 2024, Lee opened by highlighting the significance of [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) over the past 15 years, asserting that it has enabled humanity to achieve true ownership and custody of financial assets, unlike traditional [fiat](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fiat-money) money, which is controlled by banks and institutions. He explained that modern money is tied to identity and can be subject to restrictions, such as withdrawal limits and confiscation risks, emphasizing the vulnerabilities of holding cash or storing [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) on exchanges, which can be hacked or lost control of. Lee stressed the importance of self-custody for [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin), advocating for simple, physical storage solutions like his company's Ballet card, which offers a durable, easy-to-use, non-electronic way to hold [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) without seed phrases or complex setup. He shared personal anecdotes, including a story about an elderly woman who lost access to her [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) stored on an exchange, illustrating the dangers of centralized custody. Lee concluded by encouraging attendees to prioritize safe, self-managed custody methods and invited them to visit his booth for physical [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) products and signed copies of his book, emphasizing that true ownership requires simplicity, security, and control. [\\[10\\]](#cite-id-gJ4QMD9m4bHgWD0c) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=2dROJpk1vtg)","summary":"Bobby Lee is a technology entrepreneur, known for founding Ballet, a cryptocurrency storage company, and BTCC, a pioneering Bitcoin exchange in China.","images":[{"id":"Qma4jhN86ziZcL8gVxqMywoqDNmguE7KgjrHaGUeXFBzHg","type":"image/jpeg, 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