Lucas Zhang is the cofounder and CEO of Balance.fun, an AI-powered blockchain experience platform that bridges traditional gaming with Web3 technology. He is also the cofounder of E-PAL, one of the world's largest gaming companion platforms with over 4.2 million users and 450,000 gaming companions (ePals). Zhang has established himself as a notable entrepreneur in the blockchain gaming and AI agent space, focusing on creating more personalized, adaptive, and socially engaging gaming experiences.

Education

Lucas Zhang's academic journey began at the prestigious Tsinghua University, where he immersed himself in the study of Business Administration and Management from 2007 to 2011. During these formative years, Zhang not only earned his Bachelor's degree but also developed the critical business acumen and management expertise that would later become the foundation for his entrepreneurial ventures. His time at Tsinghua, exposed him to innovative thinking and strategic business concepts that would prove invaluable in his future career at the intersection of gaming, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. ^[5]

Career

Zhang began his career as a lifelong gamer with a strong interest in blockchain technology. He was initially drawn to blockchain because of its decentralized nature and quickly recognized its potential beyond financial applications. Zhang saw how blockchain could redefine digital ownership and value distribution, particularly in gaming environments where players could truly own their in-game assets and participate in decentralized economies.

In March 2020, Zhang co-founded E-PAL, which rapidly grew to become a leading gaming companion platform. The platform connects gamers with companions who enhance their gaming experience, addressing what Zhang identified as a key need in the gaming community for personalized companionship.

Building on E-PAL's success, Zhang later launched Balance.fun, a Web3 protocol that blends social and artificial intelligence gaming companions. The platform features AI gaming companions called ePals that serve as intelligent gaming partners and social companions. Under Zhang's leadership, Balance.fun has developed tools for education and productivity, such as in-game coaching. The platform has recorded over 100,000 on-chain interactions since its inception ^[1].

Zhang has successfully secured significant funding for his ventures. In September 2024, E-PAL announced it had raised a total of $30 million from prominent investors including a16z, Galaxy Interactive, and Animoca Brands to support the development and growth of Balance.fun. Additionally, ahead of its public Key Node sale in November 2024, Balance.fun secured over $10 million in institutional investments from companies including Animoca Brands, Amber Group, GSR Markets, MarbleX, Mask Network, and others.

Under Zhang's leadership, Balance.fun has established partnerships with over 80 Web3 gaming companies and supports more than 180 games across Web2 and Web3. The platform added 26 million new users during its Beta Test Phase. E-PAL has also formed successful partnerships with leading Web2 gaming giants including Riot Games, Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, Blizzard, and EA to help launch games.

Zhang is also known for his insights on cryptocurrency markets and blockchain technology. In April 2025, he commented on the approval of spot Ethereum ETFs, noting that it represented "a major shift, legitimizing ETH for institutional investors and creating upward price pressure" ^[3].

Zhang's approach to gaming and blockchain integration is centered on addressing specific user needs. He observed that many players wanted to find the right gaming companions to enhance their enjoyment. This insight led him to evolve from E-PAL to Balance.fun, aiming to build a more scalable, decentralized, and user-driven entertainment ecosystem that could meet broader player demands and provide more opportunities for value sharing between creators and users .

Zhang has expressed that while human companions are valuable, they cannot fully address certain niche user-base demands and their scalability is limited. He sees AI agents as an opportunity to solve these issues, offering round-the-clock, high-quality interactive services with enormous potential for transformative change within the industry.

In the context of industry consolidation, Zhang has warned about the potential for monopolistic behavior in a looser regulatory environment. He has highlighted the dangers of having dominant players like Binance in the APAC region or Tether in stablecoins, which could stifle smaller competitors. Zhang advocates for a balanced regulatory approach that encourages innovation while protecting consumers and preventing monopolies .

In the first quarter of 2025, Zhang announced plans for Balance.fun to release EPT, a digital token designed to lay the foundation for a decentralized economy within the Balance.fun ecosystem. The platform is also developing AI ePals creation tools that will allow users to freely create and customize AI agents, as well as implementing the Fans Protocol, which enables users to invest in and support their favorite ePals through fan tokens.

In November 2024, Balance.fun launched its Key Node Sale, inviting participants to help build a more secure and stable gaming and social network. Key Nodes serve as the backbone of the Balance.fun ecosystem, playing a vital role in supporting decentralized applications and services, including Web3 gaming, data processing, AI training, and DeFi operations. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}