{"version":1,"id":"dennis-qian","title":"Dennis Qian","summary":"Dennis Qian is a person who co-founded Definitive Finance and works as a software engineer focused on decentralized finance, trade execution, algorithmic trading and AI integration.","content":"**Dennis Qian** is a software engineer and entrepreneur whose career has focused on software development, financial technology, and [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) markets. He is currently Co-Founder of Definitive, having previously worked as a Senior Software Engineer at [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) and Tagomi and held several earlier engineering and startup roles. [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-SMJvxDfEzmZbkcz7)  \n\n## Education\n\nQian graduated from Rice University with a BS in Computer Science in 2012. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-83i4wpi5jj) \n\n## Career\n\nQian began his career with a Software Engineer internship at Google before working as a Software Engineer at Zynga, where he contributed to the company’s mobile poker product for iOS and Android. During this period, he also co-founded ALICE\\&LOVE, an online marketplace for pre-owned fashion that used a virtual currency for transactions. He later co-founded Airseed, a data platform for email that was backed by Google Ventures and subsequently acquired by Superhuman, before joining Zenefits as a Staff Software Engineer. Qian subsequently co-founded Splitsecond Ventures, which focused on trade-execution automation for cryptocurrency markets. He then joined Tagomi as a Senior Software Engineer, working at the cryptocurrency prime brokerage before its acquisition by [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase). At [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase), he served as a Senior Software Engineer and led the design and development of an algorithmic execution engine for Coinbase Prime, supporting trading activity across Advanced Trader, Prime, and Derivatives. Qian is currently Co-Founder of Definitive, an onchain trading platform focused on institutional users.  [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-rvip7wyer1) \n\n## Interviews\n\n### Advanced Trading\n\nIn a December 2024 interview on the BlockHash Podcast, Qian discussed his background in coding, [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3), and [arbitrage](https://iq.wiki/wiki/arbitrage) trading bots before explaining the development of Definitive Finance. He described the platform as an abstraction layer across multiple [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) networks, using [smart contracts](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract) to manage account permissions while providing customizable trading infrastructure and advanced order types such as time-weighted average price (TWAP) orders to reduce market impact. Qian said the platform serves institutional investors, OTC desks, hedge funds, venture capital firms, and high-net-worth individuals, who use its API for automated trading, early access to assets, and execution in thinner markets including [memecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/memecoins) and AI-related tokens. He also discussed the potential for [AI agents](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ai-agents) to interact autonomously with onchain financial systems, such as wallets executing trades based on sentiment or social signals, arguing that [crypto’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) permissionless architecture provides a useful environment for this type of experimentation. Looking ahead, he said Definitive planned to expand support for additional chains and explore features including mobile trading, yield products, and perpetuals, while expecting [AI agents](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ai-agents) to become increasingly important to the next phase of [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) market activity. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-gy3ku7x5rc) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](g97uQpaBiK8)\n\n### DeFi Quality\n\nIn a November 2024 interview on the [Bankless Podcast](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bankless), Qian joined [Will Warren](https://iq.wiki/wiki/will-warren) of 0x to discuss trade execution and the challenges of achieving high-quality execution in [decentralized finance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi). They compared [DeFi](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) with traditional financial markets, noting that while traditional markets have developed sophisticated systems for optimizing execution, onchain trading must account for factors such as block producers, MEV infrastructure, and the constraints of trustless environments. The conversation examined the tension between decentralization and execution efficiency, including how systems such as Flashbots can improve trading outcomes while potentially concentrating influence among a smaller group of participants. Qian and [Warren](https://iq.wiki/wiki/will-warren) also discussed 0x V2, which was designed to improve quote accuracy, execution speed, liquidity access, routing, and transaction simulation in an effort to bring [DeFi](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) execution closer to traditional financial markets. They concluded by highlighting opportunities for builders to develop applications around areas such as [tokenization](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tokenization), large trades, and institutional trading as onchain markets continue to mature. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-jqap5hmjsj) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](hT0cO85wgi0)\n\n## Presentations\n\n### Definitive’s AI Agents\n\nIn a May 2026 presentation at AI Clubhouse, Qian discussed how Definitive Finance integrated AI into its development workflows and used the technology to reduce the time required to build and ship new features. He explained that AI has changed the skills and roles needed within the organization, leading the company to favor versatile employees capable of making decisions across product, engineering, and design rather than maintaining more narrowly defined roles. Qian described changes to the design and testing processes, including replacing traditional Figma-based workflows with React prototypes generated through cloud-based coding tools and reducing manual testing in favor of AI-assisted validation, with greater emphasis placed on specifications and strategic oversight. He also discussed the use of contextual maps, internal AI agents, and parallel workstreams to coordinate development and improve productivity, arguing that organizational structure and effective use of talent are as important as the underlying tools. Qian concluded by outlining a multi-stage AI workflow for developing ideas, refining requirements, estimating effort, and executing projects, emphasizing that companies will need to adapt their talent and processes as AI becomes more deeply integrated into software development. [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-hlci4uganl) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](kAQVVAYj1TY)\n","categories":[{"id":"people","title":"people"}],"tags":[{"id":"Founder"},{"id":"Developer"},{"id":"Speaker"},{"id":"Ethereum"}],"images":[{"id":"Qme4jGZ8JdvqUTMpDDewHPG2vNP74gTocSrZJJZTBLfypR","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"media":[{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g97uQpaBiK8","name":"g97uQpaBiK8","source":"YOUTUBE","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g97uQpaBiK8","caption":""},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT0cO85wgi0","name":"hT0cO85wgi0","source":"YOUTUBE","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT0cO85wgi0","caption":""},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAQVVAYj1TY","name":"kAQVVAYj1TY","source":"YOUTUBE","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAQVVAYj1TY","caption":""}],"metadata":[{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisqian"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://twitter.com/dennis_qian"},{"id":"github_profile","value":"https://github.com/dennisqian"},{"id":"website","value":"https://definitive.fi/"},{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"83i4wpi5jj\",\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisqian/\",\"description\":\"LinkedIn profile listing roles and locations\",\"timestamp\":1788271118270},{\"id\":\"jqap5hmjsj\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT0cO85wgi0\",\"description\":\"Bankless Podcast on DeFi trade execution\",\"timestamp\":1788271118270},{\"id\":\"rvip7wyer1\",\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisqian/details/experience/\",\"description\":\"Education entry for Rice University\",\"timestamp\":1788271118270},{\"id\":\"gy3ku7x5rc\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g97uQpaBiK8\",\"description\":\"BlockHash Podcast on Definitive's architecture and orders\",\"timestamp\":1788271118270},{\"id\":\"hlci4uganl\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAQVVAYj1TY\",\"description\":\"AI Clubhouse presentation on Definitive's AI workflows\",\"timestamp\":1788271118270},{\"id\":\"SMJvxDfEzmZbkcz7\",\"description\":\"Definitive Finance\",\"timestamp\":1788271202817,\"url\":\"https://www.definitive.fi/\"}]"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"Create wiki page for Dennis Qian"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmRKfjEaCbcuqjjLXsttjVCB8861LcLTrf199zZqCyT8h1"}],"events":[{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Software Engineer Intern at Google","date":"2011-05-01","description":"Software Engineer Intern at Google","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"e8f7edbc-2ed1-4b94-84e2-f6cfb09da72e"},{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Co-Founder at ALICE&LOVE","date":"2012-05-01","description":"Co-Founder at ALICE&LOVE","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"3630fdf4-834c-41d3-b549-3b03ab481c47"},{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Software Engineer at Zynga","date":"2012-08-01","description":"Software Engineer at Zynga","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"69afc068-6405-47a0-86d5-55c6fdd5f4f2"},{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Co-Founder at Airseed","date":"2013-08-01","description":"Co-Founder at Airseed","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"72702003-2ca3-482c-98f2-0e3836faeb5a"},{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Staff Software Engineer at Zenefits","date":"2015-05-01","description":"Staff Software Engineer at Zenefits","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"f14fbf2a-940e-41f7-b444-9e6cbfee956e"},{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Co-Founder at Splitsecond Ventures","date":"2017-07-01","description":"Co-Founder at Splitsecond Ventures","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"cfac5d16-578f-48a3-be24-3d338b5da2cc"},{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Senior Software Engineer at Tagomi","date":"2019-05-01","description":"Senior Software Engineer at Tagomi","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"e0a86f7c-d9a4-466c-a658-b55692788877"},{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Senior Software Engineer at Coinbase","date":"2020-07-01","description":"Senior Software Engineer at Coinbase","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"2f76fd7b-abc5-44a4-94ac-747a9f864a9d"},{"type":"DEFAULT","title":"Co-Founder at Definitive","date":"2022-07-01","description":"Co-Founder at Definitive","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"id":"de44e0f6-e076-4645-b909-90b916556f31"}],"linkedWikis":{"founders":[],"blockchains":[],"speakers":[]},"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0xacb6c5AD52b8f605299B0d774CE97F26e3DB80c2"},"language":"en","operator":{"id":"0xacb6c5AD52b8f605299B0d774CE97F26e3DB80c2"}}