#China #Beijing #CKGSB #Wang Neng #Tokenomics

Professor Wang Neng Honored with the 2024 CBER-Circle Insight Award

In a significant recognition of groundbreaking research in the field of blockchain economics, Professor Wang Neng, a prominent figure at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB), has been awarded the 2024 CBER-Circle Insight Award. This prestigious accolade, co-established by the Crypto and Blockchain Economic Research (CBER) Forum and Circle, a leading fintech company in the United States, celebrates innovative academic studies that demonstrate impactful insights on a global scale.

Wang Neng, who serves as the Dean's Distinguished Chair Professor of Finance and Senior Associate Dean at CKGSB, has been acknowledged for co-authoring the pioneering work titled "Tokenomics Dynamic Adoption and Valuation." This research, created in collaboration with fellow academics Professor William Lin CONG from Cornell University and Professor Ye LI from the University of Washington, stands as one of the early theoretical frameworks exploring token pricing. Its influence is seen in a vast body of subsequent theoretical and empirical studies that have been disseminated widely through top-tier academic journals and international conferences.

The core of this award-winning study revolves around a dynamic asset pricing model specifically designed for blockchain platform tokens. Wang Neng’s team meticulously illustrates the relationship between token pricing and user engagement within blockchain ecosystems. By evaluating the nonlinear interactions between token prices and several factors—including platform productivity, user diversity, and network scalability—the research uncovers critical insights into competition among blockchain platforms and related asset pricing strategies.

As of early 2025, "Tokenomics Dynamic Adoption and Valuation" has gathered an impressive 730 citations on Google Scholar, affirming its stature as one of the most cited contemporary papers featured in the prestigious Review of Financial Studies, an influential journal in the finance domain. Further emphasizing its impact, the paper has been classified among the top 1% of highly cited works recorded in the Scopus database. Notably, it has also influenced policy making within elite organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Government of Canada.

The recognition of Professor Wang Neng not only highlights individual achievement but also reinforces the reputation of CKGSB as a leading institution fostering transformative business leadership with a global viewpoint. Since its inception in Beijing in November 2002, CKGSB has become China's first privately-funded and research-oriented business school, committed to nurturing future leaders equipped with innovative thinking, empathetic leadership, and a strong sense of social responsibility.

In an era where blockchain technologies are redefining economic paradigms, the work of scholars like Professor Wang Neng becomes increasingly valuable for both academic circles and real-world applications. As the implications of blockchain economics continue to evolve, stakeholders from various sectors can benefit from the insights gleaned from such foundational research.