Howking Tech to rebrand as MemeStrategy following 9GAG founder's buyout

Hong Kong-based meme platform 9GAG's co-founder Ray Chan has officially completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in Howking Technology and has announced plans to rename the company as MemeStrategy, which captures the company's latest business outlook and strategic ambitions.

According to the company’s announcement on 27 January 2025, the total consideration of this acquisition is over HK$140 million.

The move underscores the company's positioning as Asia's first publicly listed virtual asset ecosystem venture. The proposed name change is subject to approval by shareholders at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting.

Within the new renamed company, Chan has assumed the roles of chairman and CEO, leading the company's strategic development and business operations. As co-founder of 9GAG, Chan successfully built the platform into a globally recognised brand with over 200 million users worldwide, backed by investments from top-tier accelerator Y Combinator and other prominent venture capital firms.

In addition, several key members from 9GAG and Memeland have joined the board as executive directors, driving MemeStrategy's strategic focus on three key growth pillars: artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and culture.

MemeStrategy plans to incorporate Bitcoin and other high-potential virtual assets into the company's asset allocation to achieve long-term value growth. Leveraging its extensive experience in social media and the Web3 space, the team will selectively invest in innovative Web3 and AI projects. By integrating 9GAG's vast global community resources with over 200 million users worldwide, the company aims to accelerate growth and foster business diversification and sustainable development.

Key focus areas include "creator economy 4.0"—combining Web3 technology to empower creators to monetise and enhance their intellectual property (IP) value; "Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Network" (DePin)—merging Howking Technology's expertise in the Internet of Things (IoT) to explore the application potential of next-generation decentralised infrastructure.

In a conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, a spokesperson from MemeStrategy said the company will leverage on the team’s extensive experience from 9GAG to support and drive the creator industry’s development. "We recognise a significant gap between Web2 and Web3, where many creators are eager to monetise and enhance the value of their intellectual property."

"As advocates of the creator economy, we are committed to empowering these creators and advancing creator economy 4.0, believing that this effort will also usher the marketing and advertising industry into a new era. We look forward to embarking on this exciting journey and forging partnerships within the virtual asset ecosystem to create a new chapter together," the spokesperson added.

Chan said: "Our team is rooted in Hong Kong with a global vision and extensive experience in the social media sector. We have actively participated and invested in multiple Web3 and virtual asset projects, witnessing firsthand the immense potential of this field. In recent years, Hong Kong and governments worldwide have been actively advancing Web3 policies and regulatory frameworks."

"Now is the optimal time to leverage the transparent operating model of public companies to improve market awareness and confidence in Web3 while creating long-term value for shareholders. We aim to build the bridge between the new economy and traditional finance, supporting Hong Kong's development as an international virtual asset hub," he added.

To further strengthen corporate governance and professional guidance, MemeStrategy has appointed three industry leaders as independent non-executive directors: Sandy Peng, co-founder of Scroll; Wesley Ng, CEO and co-founder of CASETiFY; and Victor Siu, a seasoned financial expert and CEO of GCA Professional Services Group, who brings over 18 years of professional experience in investment banking and valuation.

The MemeStrategy team stands out as one of the few with dual expertise in operating both Web2 social media and Web3 virtual assets. The team members possess extensive experience in product development and investment, and a track record of success in many notable projects, including token projects featured on Binance Launchpool by Binance, the global leading virtual asset exchange.

Working strategically with 9GAG and partners, MemeStrategy will leverage its massive, diverse, and globally distributed community spanning diverse age groups and regions to provide robust marketing and growth momentum for ecosystem projects and partners. This unparalleled synergy will further grow and unlock the long-term value of the projects involved.

Join us this coming 17 June for #Content360 Hong Kong, an insightful one-day event centered around responsible AI, creativity VS influencers, Xiaohongshu and more. Let's dive into the art of curating content with creativity, critical thinking and confidence!

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