Evan Cheng

Evan Cheng

Formal First Name
Evan

Evan Cheng is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mysten Labs, the primary developer behind the groundbreaking Sui layer 1 protocol. As a preeminent Web3 technologist and entrepreneur, Cheng stands at the forefront of blockchain innovation, spearheading global efforts to build a more decentralized and accessible web. Prior to launching Mysten Labs, he held the position of Director of Research and Development at Novi Financial, the cryptocurrency wallet division of Meta. In this senior capacity, he led critical initiatives across systems and security, programming languages, and formal verification. His work at Novi was instrumental in new product experimentation, where he engineered sophisticated prototypes designed to redefine the future of digital asset storage and decentralized finance. Cheng’s career is built upon more than 25 years of leadership at some of the world’s most prominent technology giants. His tenure includes significant roles at both Apple and Facebook, where he contributed to the foundational systems and software that power modern computing.

Professional Experience


Academic History

MYSTEN LABS

  • Under the leadership of Evan Cheng, Mysten Labs has emerged as a powerhouse in the blockchain ecosystem, achieving significant institutional backing.

  • The firm successfully secured $35 million in Series A funding, followed by a landmark $300 million Series B round.

  • Mysten Labs is dedicated to building the critical architecture necessary to enable a more decentralized internet and accelerate global Web3 adoption.

  • The company’s products are engineered specifically for builders, Web3 enthusiasts, and users seeking to explore the frontier of new, interactive digital models.

  • By focusing on scalability and developer-centric tools, the firm aims to make decentralized technology a seamless part of the modern web experience.


EARLY CAREER & TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

  • A seasoned expert in the Silicon Valley cryptocurrency and blockchain circles, Cheng’s professional background is defined by high-scale systems engineering. 

  • During his tenure at Facebook, he built the programming language and runtime organization. This team was responsible for developing and operating the systems that power diverse workloads, ranging from machine learning accelerators to mobile and server environments.

  • Before his work in social media infrastructure, Cheng left a global mark through his leadership in the development of the Apple LLVM software. This contribution earned him the prestigious Outstanding Software Contribution Award from the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

  • Today, LLVM is recognized as a fundamental technology that powers billions of devices, including every iOS, Android, and Mac OS system worldwide.

  • His earlier technical career also includes roles as a Senior Principal Engineer at Synfora and as an engineer for Equator Technologies.


MEDIA PRESENCE & INDUSTRY INFLUENCE

  • As a thought leader in the digital asset space, Cheng is frequently featured in prominent financial and technology media outlets.

  • His insights on the future of decentralization and layer 1 protocols have been highlighted by Yahoo! Finance, The Block, Cointelegraph, CoinDesk, and Blockworks.

  • Beyond digital media, he is a regular speaker at major industry conferences, where he discusses the intersection of traditional systems engineering and blockchain innovation.