Amidst hype and hype, becoming a gatekeeper of data authenticity. This episode features Wu Dayou, CEO of YouShu Technology and founder and secretary-general of the Global Data Elements 50 Forum. He is a specially appointed lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University; and an AI and data strategy consultant for Fortune 500 companies such as JD.com, L'Oréal, and Master Kong. He possesses 20 years of experience in the marketization of data elements, systematically dissecting the path to putting 1.2 trillion RMB of real assets on the blockchain for enterprises. He is the author of books such as Business Transformation in the Internet Age, RWA Practical Handbook in the Web3 Era, The Complete Handbook for Releasing Data Value, and Strategic Thinking. In the current climate of repeated discussions about Web3 and AI, "data" has become the default premise of almost all narratives, yet it is precisely for this reason that it is constantly being ignored. Most discussions treat data as a self-evident underlying capability, but avoid a crucial question: Is the data authentic? Is it verifiable? Is it sufficient to support long-term judgment? Wu Dayou (video account: Wu Dayou's Web3 World) has long focused on this issue that the industry has repeatedly skipped – bringing data back from being a "presumed premise" to a real capability that needs repeated testing, continuous operation, and decision-making responsibility. In his work, two scenarios repeatedly occur: one is in corporate meeting rooms, where he discusses feasible paths for data assetization with decision-makers; the other is on public platforms, dissecting how real assets can be transformed into verifiable, priced, and sustainable data structures. He consistently stands between these two positions: deeply involved in frontline practice while also continuously undertaking the role of clarifying concepts and outputting methodologies. [Image: Practical Methodology from some of Wu Dayou's published books: RWA's endpoint is finance, its starting point is data.] "The underlying problem of all financial innovation is ultimately a data problem. On-chain immutability is easy; the difficulty lies in whether off-chain assets can withstand verification." In Wu Dayou's framework, RWA (Real Asset On-Chain) is one of the key paths to releasing the value of data elements. In Wu Dayou's view, the realization of RWA is not a simple technical issue, but rather the most tangible and demanding path in the process of releasing the value of data elements. It tests not the on-chain technology itself, but whether assets can complete a solid data transformation before being "on-chain." Currently, there is a common misalignment in the industry: many discussions skip the essence and focus directly on the design of financial structures, neglecting the cornerstone supporting all of this—whether the underlying data is authentic, continuous, and verifiable.“It’s like building a skyscraper on sand,” Wu Dayou bluntly stated. “Without a reliable data foundation, any on-chain operation merely encapsulates traditional opacity within a digital shell. The risks don’t disappear; instead, they are masked by the complexity of the technology.” Therefore, his planned path for businesses is exceptionally pragmatic and rigorous, following three progressive steps: Asset Verification: This is the starting point of business logic. The core is confirming clear and legal asset ownership and the ability to continuously generate predictable cash flow. Data Verification: This is the core of digitalization. It must ensure that the data flow reflecting asset dynamics (such as orders, logistics, and cash flow) is complete, authentic, and traceable in real time. Financial Design: Only when the first two steps are solid and reliable is discussing token models, compliance architecture, and liquidity solutions meaningful. Based on extensive practical experience, Wu Dayou has two core judgments about the current RWA market: Current Status: Most so-called RWA projects on the market, especially those issued in the primary market, are essentially closer to a balance sheet optimization tool, primarily serving the financing or market capitalization management needs of specific entities, rather than truly open asset circulation. Future: Truly liquid secondary market RWAs must simultaneously possess high-quality data assets. It must meet three conditions: profitability: generating sustainable cash flow; verifiability: the asset status can be thoroughly analyzed through data; and compliance: a business model that conforms to mainstream policy directions. Currently, assets that simultaneously meet all three conditions are extremely rare. Wu Dayou summarized, “This reveals the gap between the ideal and reality of RWA. Our work is to help companies first cross the threshold of ‘data assetization,’ which is the only way to achieve true RWA.” Thoughts and Evangelism: Cultivating “Non-Automated Judgment” in the AI Era Beyond intensive corporate consulting, Wu Dayou continues to dedicate himself to content creation and teaching. This is not additional idealism, but rather his assessment of the competitive structure in the AI era. “My MBTI is INTJ, an architect-type personality. The core drive is building systems and helping people realize their value.” His dual background in management psychology and the digital economy allows him to examine issues simultaneously from the perspectives of individual cognition and macro-structure. In his view, data is the key medium connecting the self and the world—time, health, relationships, and assets can all essentially be digitized, measured, and judged. He believes that AI is rapidly erasing differences at the tool level. What truly differentiates people is no longer technical proficiency, but judgment. Therefore, he repeatedly emphasizes a non-technical keyword in his teaching and content: taste.This is not a matter of emotional preference, but a comprehensive manifestation of three abilities: the ability to make choices amidst complex information; the ability to identify long-term value; and the ability to maintain a sense of direction in a highly uncertain environment. "When AI can complete all standardized tasks, the true value of humanity lies in judging what is worth doing and what is not." In his understanding, the goal of education is not to cultivate "AI users," but to train curators for the AI era—to express structure with data, to carry value with algorithms, and to make decisions with aesthetics. Demystifying the Industry: When Narratives Recede, Only Judgment Remains the Hard Currency. Faced with the rapid rotation of narratives such as DeFi, NFTs, RWA, and AI+Crypto, Wu Dayou's analytical framework returns to the most basic perspective: value investing. In his view, AI, RWA, Web3, ICOs, and even Bitcoin are essentially narratives. This is not a denial of technology, but a clear understanding of the industry's operating mechanism: the role of narratives is to build consensus at a specific stage; and the responsibility of professionals is to distinguish when a narrative is effective and when it is ineffective. The biggest collective misconception in the industry is that people often mistake emotional premiums for value itself. When narratives shift, those truly lacking fundamental skills are quickly exposed. This is also his core judgment on Web3: Web3 is not a tool to empower everyone, but a system that accelerates the selection process. It directly returns the responsibility for independent thinking and value judgment to the individual. Hence the repeatedly quoted summary: Web3 is a temple for highly intelligent thinkers, a carnival for deep thinkers, and a graveyard for those who refuse to think. Conclusion: In an era of high uncertainty, if he could only retain one identity by persisting in doing certain things, his answer would be unhesitating: educator. Because in his view, technology will iterate, and models will become outdated, but how one thinks, how one judges, and how one remains clear-headed amidst the deluge of data are the only abilities that can transcend cycles. Today, he still frequently switches between corporate consulting, content creation, and teaching. This seemingly high-intensity state is precisely the natural result of his "unity of knowledge and action" philosophy. In an era where everyone talks about disruption, he chooses to cultivate deeply; in an industry where concepts are constantly being updated, he chooses long-termism. As he defines himself, "I'm just someone who tries to explain complex issues clearly in the data age, helping more people avoid detours." Perhaps it is this restrained yet pragmatic persistence that constitutes the rarest and sharpest force in this era. [Klickl]