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- Evan Cheng co-founded Mysten Labs to develop Sui, a blockchain aiming for high efficiency and scalability in decentralized applications.
- Previously at Apple and Facebook, Cheng led innovations in compiler technology and blockchain, shaping Web3’s future with Mysten Labs.
Before Evan Cheng built Sui, he was already deep in the tech world. As Mysten Labs’ co-founder, he pushed for a faster, smarter blockchain—one that could fix the flaws he saw in existing networks.
Evan Cheng: Early Career and Contributions at Apple
Originally very interested in computer science, Cheng graduated from Marietta College in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. He subsequently continued on to graduate from Syracuse University in 1996 with a Master of Science degree in Computer Science.
Following his studies, Cheng began his career at Equator Technologies in 1997 as an Engineering Manager. But his first significant move came when he joined Apple in 2005.
Under Apple, Cheng oversaw the backend team for LLVM, a compiler effort underpinning many contemporary products. His commitment to creating this compiler technology was well known; in 2012 he was awarded the esteemed ACM Software System Award.
Imagine, thanks to the work of Cheng and his team at Apple, the tools we use every day—an iPhone or a MacBook—run faultlessly.
Adventures at Facebook and Novi Financial
After ten years at Apple, Cheng went for a fresh challenge and joined Facebook in 2015 as Director of Engineering. There he oversaw the evolution of programming languages and runtimes to guarantee Facebook’s platform stayed agile and creative.
But his passion in blockchain technology drove him to spearhead Novi Research in 2018, a Facebook project dedicated to blockchain technology development. Designed to increase security and efficiency of digital transactions, Novi, Cheng, and his team worked hard to create the Diem blockchain and Move programming language.
Founding Mysten Labs and the Sui Revolution
Inspired to contribute more impact to the space of decentralization, Cheng and a few friends started Mysten Labs in September 2021. Under his direction as CEO, Sui, a layer-1 blockchain meant to solve current blockchain infrastructure constraints, is developed.
Sui provides great scalability and efficiency that let decentralized apps run more effectively. Faster and safer transactions made possible by Sui’s object-based approach entice developers and investors to this platform.
Sui’s Growth and Cheng’s Take on Blockchain’s Limitations
Under Cheng’s leadership, Sui has achieved significant milestones. By December 2024, Sui’s total value locked (TVL) had crossed $1.5 billion, a clear sign that institutional investors and the market saw real potential in it. Meanwhile, Cheng hasn’t held back in criticizing existing blockchain systems, calling Ethereum’s Virtual Machine (EVM) ‘fundamentally broken.’
Cheng believes that Web3 is not just about money but also about equality and transparency. His vision is to build a decentralized, secure, reliable, and scalable internet. With Mysten Labs and Sui, he is committed to realizing this vision, bringing real change to the way we interact with technology and digital assets.
Evan Cheng’s journey from an engineer at Apple to a leader in the blockchain space shows his dedication and vision in driving technological innovation. Through Mysten Labs and Sui, he continues to shape a better internet future for all.
