Core Insights - The article chronicles the journey of Zhao, a significant figure in the digital finance sector, highlighting his strategic decisions and the evolution of his trading platform from its inception to its global expansion [2][4][6]. Group 1: Business Evolution - Zhao's early career involved moving to Canada, where he immersed himself in programming and trading software, eventually founding his trading platform in Shanghai in 2017 after selling his property [2]. - The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a rapid expansion of his team to over a thousand members and daily trading volumes exceeding 10 billion RMB [2]. - A pivotal moment occurred in September 2021 when Zhao's operations in mainland China were halted, prompting a strategic shift to a global business model and remote work [4]. Group 2: Strategic Resilience - Following a brief imprisonment in 2024, Zhao relocated to the UAE, which was seen as a strategic move to maintain influence while managing operations remotely [4]. - The team's organizational resilience is attributed to its global employee distribution and diverse product offerings, including exchanges, token issuance, and DeFi tools [7]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - In 2025, the cryptocurrency market began to recover, particularly with the easing of stablecoin regulations in Hong Kong, which acted as a catalyst for market changes [6]. - Zhao's participation in key forums in August 2025, where he discussed the role of stablecoins in the internationalization of the RMB, indicated a proactive approach to market engagement [6]. Group 4: Regulatory Landscape - The article emphasizes the need for improved compliance mechanisms as the market evolves, highlighting the importance of transparency and risk management to sustain user trust [11]. - Regulatory shifts in Hong Kong suggest a move towards a more nuanced approach to cryptocurrency, balancing investment opportunities with necessary oversight [11]. Group 5: Personal and Market Reputation - Zhao's public appearances are framed as efforts to restore his personal reputation and validate his strategic direction within the market [15]. - The ongoing developments in the regulatory environment and potential political factors are seen as critical to the future trajectory of Zhao's ventures and the broader market [15][17].

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Accumulate" rating for OSL Group, marking the first coverage of the company [6] Core Insights - OSL Group has achieved profitability for the first time since its strategic transformation in 2018, with a revenue increase of 78.6% year-on-year to HKD 375 million in 2024, and a net profit of HKD 54.8 million, reversing a loss of HKD 250 million from the previous year [1][4] - The company is accelerating its global expansion, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, with recent acquisitions including CoinBest, now OSL Japan, and a target company in Italy [2] - A new PayFi business line has been introduced, with an investment of up to USD 30 million to develop a global PayFi ecosystem, bridging traditional finance and Web3 [3] Financial Forecast and Valuation - The forecast for OSL Group's net profit from 2025 to 2027 is projected at HKD 60 million, HKD 82 million, and HKD 681 million, with year-on-year growth rates of 7.59%, 36.72%, and 728.29% respectively [4][10] - The estimated earnings per share (EPS) for the same period are HKD 0.10, HKD 0.13, and HKD 1.09, with a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 10x for 2025, leading to a target price of HKD 11.98 [4][10]