EastPoint

From Asia to the World: The Institutional Gateway to Web3 Adoption

🔗 Official Website:

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

One of the more important shifts in digital assets right now is how quickly Korea is becoming an institutional market.

EastPoint:Seoul returns on September 28, 2026, bringing together a curated group of policymakers, institutions, investors, and builders to discuss where that shift is heading — and what it means in practice.

For projects and institutions looking at Korea, this is where curated conversations, targeted meetings, and direct engagement with policymakers come together.

Korea is emerging as one of the most important markets to watch in digital assets, with institutional interest rising and regulatory momentum becoming increasingly visible. EastPoint:Seoul 2026 is built for global projects, investors, and institutions looking to understand that shift early — and engage the right people around it.

Co-hosted by @hashed_official and @bloomingbit_io, the event brings together leaders across policy, finance, digital assets, and AI for conversations that go beyond headline themes and toward practical outcomes.

This year’s agenda includes:
— Stablecoins and digital capital markets
— Institutional digital asset management
— Real-world asset tokenization
— Autonomous AI economies

What sets EastPoint:Seoul apart is not only the agenda, but the composition of the room. Participants are thoughtfully screened by the hosts to ensure a highly relevant set of conversations across projects, institutions, and policymakers. This extends into curated business meetings and closed-door roundtables designed to support direct engagement, stronger alignment, and tangible outcomes beyond the event.

Last year, EastPoint:Seoul brought together 503 attendees, 63 speakers, 50+ business meetings, and 40+ closed-door roundtables, with participation from Former Acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham @CarolineDPham, White House digital asset officials @HarryYJung, and bipartisan lawmakers from Korea.

As Korea’s market continues to evolve, EastPoint:Seoul aims to be a place where meaningful conversations turn into real alignment, real relationships, and real outcomes.

Details → https://t.co/bDpqYYczIC

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

2. Stablecoins as Payment Infrastructure
- EastPoint:Seoul 2026, September 28th

Stablecoins are no longer being discussed as a crypto asset.

In Korea's mainstream business press, they are being framed as financial infrastructure.

This is the second piece in this year's EastPoint:Seoul 2026 preview series. Hong Seok-won @Hashed_HongPro, Partner at Hashed, writes in The Korea Economic Daily on how stablecoins have transitioned from volatile-asset refuges to essential payment rails. The argument is straightforward but the implications are not: the global payments stack is being rebuilt on top of stablecoin rails, in plain sight.

The piece walks through the structural shifts defining this transition:

Stablecoins have moved from speculative hedge to operational rail. PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, and Shopify are integrating them into settlement networks for supply-chain payments and tokenized assets, applications where 24/7 programmable settlement is the requirement, not a feature.

Regulatory frameworks are converging globally. The U.S. GENIUS Act, Japan's Payment Services Act, and Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act (Phase 2) are establishing the legal status institutional participants have been waiting on.

Korean banks are positioning at the rail layer. KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, and Woori are advancing won-backed stablecoin frameworks aligned with the Basic Act, making banks, not fintechs, the central nodes of the next payment stack.

The forward-looking case is AI-driven settlement. As autonomous agents transact on behalf of humans and machines, stablecoins become the only practical settlement medium, "operating 24 hours a day and settling in a programmable manner without human intervention."

This is the converging layer EastPoint:Seoul 2026 is convened to dissect: where banking infrastructure, regulation, and institutional capital meet the rails of the on-chain economy.

EastPoint:Seoul 2026 returns on September 28, 2026 at the Westin Seoul Parnas, bringing together policymakers, regulators, institutional leaders, and global Web3 builders for curated dialogue, closed-door roundtables, and direct engagement around exactly these shifts.

Co-hosted by @hashed_official, @bloomingbit_io, and @hankyungmedia.

Read the full piece by Hong Seok-won, Partner at Hashed:

ENG: https://t.co/HwAxUtufI2
KR: https://t.co/smuvNjr8Rm
JP: https://t.co/DQmR3dy8zq

Register: https://t.co/fKmjYjsfek

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

EastPoint:Seoul 2026 - Theme 1 of 5

"The Institutional Unlock - From Regulation to Capital Inflow"

For years, the gap between institutional intent and institutional deployment in digital assets was never a conviction problem.

Lets be clear. It was a regulatory and infrastructure problem.

Across 2025-2026 the missing pieces have started landing in sequence, and Korea sits at the center of where the next stage plays out.

🔸 Why this matters now.

Asset managers, banks, pension funds, and corporate treasuries had read the thesis years ago. What they didn't have:

- Licensed venues
- Qualified custody
- Asset segregation rules
- Settlement rails into fiat
- Allocation frameworks their boards would sign off on
Each piece below is now real, named, and being built.

1️⃣ Subtopic 1 - Regulatory Pathways: The Digital Asset Basic Act & Institutional Framework

Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act, first proposed under Rep. Min Byung-deok and advanced under the Lee Jae-myung administration's "Digital G2" agenda, is moving from concept to working framework.

FSC licensing for issuers and platforms
Capital requirements institutional counterparties can underwrite
Clear scope on what qualifies as a regulated digital asset activity
Without this layer, none of what follows can deploy at institutional scale.

2️⃣ Subtopic 2 - Institutional M&A Wave: TradFi Acquiring Crypto Exchanges & Infrastructure

The global pattern is no longer dismissible as one-off deals:

Mirae Asset completed the acquisition of 92% of Korbit in February 2026
Hana Financial Group agreed to acquire a 6.55% stake in Dunamu in mid-May 2026.
Samsung affiliates agreed to acquire a combined 4% stake in Dunamu on May 28, 2026. The deal is scheduled to close on June 19.
Korea Investment & Securities and OKX are set to jointly acquire a 40% stake (20% each) in Coinone.
Moonpay has acquired the Korean fintech company Finger in partnership with Sungho Electronics

TradFi has stopped trying to build crypto infrastructure internally and started buying it. Korea, one of the deepest retail crypto markets globally, is being read the same way by institutional giants evaluating licensed venues and distribution in a single transaction.

3️⃣ Subtopic 3 - Custody & Asset Segregation: Building Institutional-Grade Infrastructure

Qualified custody is the gating item for every regulated allocator.

The SEC's rescission of SAB 121 reopened the bank-custody path in the U.S.
KODA and bank-led joint ventures (KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana) are positioning for KRW-denominated institutional capital
Asset segregation, whose assets sit where, under what bankruptcy treatment, is the underwriting question every CIO asks before the custody question
The recent failures of the last cycle were segregation failures. The fix is structural, not technical.

4️⃣ Subtopic 4 - Investment Frameworks: Corporate Treasury, Pension Funds & Allocation Rules

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and Metaplanet established the corporate treasury template. The larger, slower flow is pension and sovereign.

National Pension Service holdings in Strategy and Coinbase as a quiet exposure path
Korea Investment Corporation's evolving sovereign mandate
Korean conglomerate treasury teams now evaluating BTC and tokenized treasuries under FASB fair-value accounting
A 1% pension allocation rule moves more capital than any marquee corporate buy. This is where size lives.

5️⃣ Subtopic 5 - Banking Rails for Digital Assets

The plumbing that lets capital move between regulated banking and on-chain markets without friction or counterparty risk.

KRW-backed stablecoin issuance under the Digital Asset Basic Act framework
KB Kookmin / Shinhan / NH Investment & Securities-led tokenization and settlement platforms
Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong's stated openness to won-based stablecoins as a structural signal
Stablecoins are not the story. The rails they run on are.

--
Each of these shifts is being driven by named institutions, named bills, and named transactions, not abstractions. Theme 1 is where they are stitched into a single picture.

EastPoint:Seoul 2026 returns September 28, 2026 at the Westin Seoul Parnas.

Policymakers, regulators, institutional leaders, and global Web3 builders for curated dialogue and closed-door roundtables on exactly these shifts.

📍 Westin Seoul Parnas. September 28, 2026.
🔗 Website: https://t.co/OZbgHAyDRS
🔗 Register: https://t.co/yullc20BHe

Co-hosted by @hashed_official, @bloomingbit_io, @hankyungmedia.

#EastPoint #EastPointSeoul2026 #EPS2026

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

1. The Institutional Unlock - EastPoint:Seoul 2026, September 28th

One of the clearer signals that Korea is becoming an institutional digital asset market is showing up in the country's mainstream business press.

This is the shift EastPoint:Seoul 2026 opens the year with. "The Institutional Unlock — From Regulation to Capital Inflow" is the first of five themes shaping this year's program, framing how regulation, banking infrastructure, and institutional capital are converging to define the next phase of digital assets, in Korea and globally.

The Korea Economic Daily's preview of the event, titled around exactly that frame, walks through the structural transition underway: capital and infrastructure shifting from individual investors and exchanges toward banks, brokerages, and asset managers, with digital assets being absorbed into the regulated financial stack rather than remaining adjacent to it.

The piece outlines several of the dynamics defining this shift:

- Following the U.S. SEC's approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, global asset managers including BlackRock and Fidelity have entered the market, moving the conversation from portfolio diversification to balance-sheet treatment.
- Traditional financial assets are being brought on-chain at scale. The competitive question has shifted from which token wins to which institution can connect its book to the global on-chain network.
- Won-pegged stablecoins are entering domestic policy debate, and Security Token Offerings (STO) are being formally structured into Korean capital markets.
- On the domestic side, KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, and NH Investment & Securities sit at the centre of the rails being built. Globally, Mastercard, PayPal Ventures, and SMBC Nikko Securities are participants whose presence reflects how those rails now interconnect.

EastPoint:Seoul 2026 returns on September 28, 2026 at the Westin Seoul Parnas, bringing together policymakers, regulators, institutional leaders, and global Web3 builders for curated dialogue, closed-door roundtables, and direct engagement around exactly these shifts.

Co-hosted by @hashed_official, @bloomingbit_io, and @hankyungmedia. The remaining four themes will be introduced in the weeks ahead.
Read the full preview

ENG: https://t.co/IbvKBTWat6
KR: https://t.co/hat0bhsRpH
JP: https://t.co/UFHW6FN8lO

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

Last September, 500 leaders from finance, policy, academia, and the digital asset industry gathered for eight hours of closed-door roundtables on stablecoin reserve requirements, regulatory frameworks, and institutional settlement rails.

Much of the discussion stayed behind closed doors.

This report brings together the key themes that emerged — many of which are now becoming more relevant across the market.

The synthesis ↓
https://t.co/345bAKyHOC

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

EastPoint:Seoul 2025 Concludes with Strong Momentum

We extend our sincere gratitude to all who joined us for the inaugural EastPoint:Seoul, organized by Hashed (@hashed_official) and Bloomingbit (@bloomingbit_io), and co-hosted by The Korea Economic Daily (@hankyungmedia) and World Liberty Financial (@worldlibertyfi). The success of this first edition underscores Korea’s growing role in shaping the global digital asset ecosystem.

We are especially thankful to our sponsors — @SuiFoundation, @SolanaFndn, @tether, @LayerZero_Core, @Aptos, @Anchorage, @avax, @eigencloud, @Circle, @Ripple, @CantonNetwork, @newton_xyz, @chainlink, @BitMEX, @GoKiteAI, @a41_allforone, @caladanxyz, @pudgypenguins, @solayer_labs, @HederaFndn, @presto_labs, @Stacks, and @coinbase — whose support made this gathering possible.

We also recognize the important contributions of Members of the National Assembly Byoungdug Min (The Democratic Party), Do-geol Ahn (The Democratic Party), Jaesub Kim (The People Power Party), Boyun Choi (The People Power Party), Jun-seok Lee (The Reform Party) along with leaders from Korea’s major financial institutions, including KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Financial Group, Woori Financial Group, Hana Financial Group, Korea Development Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea, etc.

Program highlights included main stage sessions on stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, and digital asset policy, reflecting the priorities of Korean institutions while also representing key areas where the Web3 industry is spearheading innovation.

The closed-door roundtables received exceptional feedback, offering a rare opportunity for candid and substantive dialogue on issues not often addressed in public settings. Encouraged by this response, we plan to broaden the scope of these discussions in 2026.

Here are some brief summary of EastPoint:2025 Seoul

- 50+ on-site business meetings coordinated
- 30+ private roundtables facilitated
- 200+ financial institutions & corporations represented
- 150+ Web3 leaders in attendance
- 20+ government officials engaged
- 30+ think tanks, law firms, and academic institutions represented

Thank you once again for making the first EastPoint:Seoul a resounding success. We look forward to convening again next year and continuing to advance the dialogue on the future of digital assets.

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

We were honored to host our sponsors, speakers, and esteemed guests at the VIP Dinner of EastPoint:Seoul 2025, held at the historic Jungdong 1928 Art Center.

Special thanks to National Assembly Members Min Byungdug (@anyangmin), Ahn Do Geol, Kim Jaesub, Lee Junseok, and Caroline Pham (CFTC) (@CarolineDPham) for joining us.

An evening of dialogue, new connections, and Korean classical performance.

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

6/ EastPoint:Seoul 2025 will serve as a platform for partnerships, technical discussions, and collaboration across infrastructure, stablecoins, and real-world asset initiatives. The one-day, invitation-only event on September 22 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul will connect global and Korean stakeholders to explore strategic opportunities shaping the future of digital assets.

🔗 More information: https://t.co/OZbgHAyDRS

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

1/ EastPoint:Seoul 2025 convenes institutional leaders, regulators, and Web3 leaders shaping the future of digital assets in Korea. This week, @SuiNetwork, @LayerZero_Core, @solana, and @avax announced major Korea-focused initiatives, highlighting the region’s growing role in blockchain adoption and innovation.

Here’s a closer look at each announcement 🧵

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

5/ Avalanche advances Korean-won stablecoins and institutional partnerships

@avax is accelerating its push into Korea with KRW1, the country’s first won-backed stablecoin, issued in collaboration with BDACS and Woori Bank. Known for high-performance, custom layer-1 blockchains, Avalanche has partnered with over 100 institutions globally, demonstrating speed, stability, and regulatory compliance.

At EastPoint:Seoul 2025, Avalanche will engage Korean companies and institutional investors to explore strategic partnerships, supporting tokenization of financial products and adoption of KRW stablecoins.

🔗 Full PR: https://t.co/DFp4ml6TBa

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

Thrilled to welcome Rania Rahardja @rrah622 to EastPoint:Seoul 2025!

Rania is the Director of APAC at Ondo Finance (@OndoFinance), where she leads business development and institutional adoption strategies across the region. With nearly five years in Web3, she brings deep expertise in tokenized assets and stablecoin infrastructure. Rania began her career at Barclays London, working in Corporate Ventures and the CEO Office on post-Brexit expansion, and holds degrees from University College London (LLB) and the University of Cambridge Judge Business School (Master’s). Outside of finance, she once represented Singapore as a Fencing Junior Olympian.

At #EastPoint:Seoul 2025, Rania will share insights on the path from pilots to large-scale institutional and government adoption of stablecoins, drawing on Ondo’s leadership in tokenized finance and cross-border innovation.

📍 Seoul | 🗓️ September 22 | 🔗 https://t.co/OZbgHAy62k

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

Delighted to welcome Andres Kim to EastPoint:Seoul 2025!

Andres Kim is an Expansion Manager at Tether (@tether), where he focuses on advancing financial inclusion and expanding stablecoin adoption across emerging markets. Passionate about bridging traditional finance and digital assets, he drives growth through strategic partnerships and initiatives that empower local communities.

At #EastPoint:Seoul 2025, Andres will share insights on the future of programmable payments and the integration of stablecoins into everyday transactions, highlighting how innovation and collaboration can unlock efficiency, compliance, and trust in global payments.

📍 Seoul | 🗓️ September 22 | 🔗 https://t.co/OZbgHAyDRS

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

[General Sponsor: Coinbase]

We are proud to announce @coinbase as a General Sponsor of EastPoint:Seoul 2025

Coinbase is the most trusted platform powering the cryptoeconomy, built on a mission to increase economic freedom for more than 1 billion people. With over 245,000 ecosystem partners in 100+ countries, Coinbase makes it simple and secure to trade, spend, save, earn, and build with crypto.

Today, Coinbase supports $425B in assets on platform and $237B in quarterly trading volume, backed by 4,200+ employees worldwide. The company is modernizing the century-old financial system with fast, free global transfers, onchain infrastructure for builders, and a strong commitment to compliance rooted in both traditional financial best practices and advanced crypto-native technology. Together with its community, Coinbase is shaping responsible rules to bring the benefits of crypto to the world.

At #EastPoint:Seoul 2025, Coinbase will share insights on building scalable crypto infrastructure, enabling institutional adoption, and modernizing global financial systems.

📍 Seoul | 🗓️ September 22, 2025 | Application & Invite-only
🔗 https://t.co/OZbgHAyDRS | https://t.co/osPOK0cFZH

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

Excited to welcome Ade Adepoju @itachee_x to EastPoint:Seoul 2025!

Ade is the Co-founder and CEO of Subzero Labs (@Subzero_Labs), the team behind Rialo (@RialoHQ), the first real-world blockchain. He previously worked as a software engineer at AMD, Dell, Netflix, and Mysten Labs, where he helped launch the Sui blockchain. With Rialo, Ade is building infrastructure that connects Web2 and the real world, creating new categories of applications and advancing crypto from iPod-era novelty to iPhone-level utility.

At #EastPoint:Seoul 2025, Ade will join industry leaders to discuss the rise of institutional investment products including crypto ETFs, tokenized assets, and stablecoins, and their role in reshaping global capital markets.

📍 Seoul | 🗓️ September 22 | 🔗 https://t.co/OZbgHAyDRS

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

Applications for EastPoint:Seoul 2025 are now closed.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who applied and shared their interest in being part of this inaugural gathering. The incredible response reaffirms the importance of creating a platform where institutions, policymakers, and Web3 innovators can come together.

We look forward to welcoming confirmed participants on September 22 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, and to sharing in the dialogue and collaboration that will shape the future of digital assets.

🔗 Learn more: https://t.co/OZbgHAy62k

[EastPoint @0xEastPoint]

Excited to welcome Jongu Shin to EastPoint:Seoul 2025!

Jongu Shin is the CEO of Presto (@Presto_Labs), a quantitative trading firm built by engineers and traders and grounded in first-principles thinking, speed, and precision. With over a decade of experience in algorithmic trading, quantitative research, and engineering leadership, he has been instrumental in building and scaling proprietary trading systems across both traditional and digital assets. An MIT-trained computer scientist, Jongu has guided Presto’s global growth since 2018, advancing its infrastructure and research platforms.

At #EastPoint:Seoul 2025, Jongu will share his perspectives on building the trust layer and core infrastructure for institutional assets.

📍 Seoul | 🗓️ September 22 | 🔗 https://t.co/OZbgHAyDRS