Seoul’s Grand Walkerhill Hotel became the centre of attention for the crypto community as Korea Blockchain Week (KBW 2025) unfolded.
The event drew industry insiders from across the globe, with the spotlight firmly on U.S. influence.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, sons of President Donald Trump, joined virtually to highlight opportunities in the Korean market through their respective ventures, American Bitcoin and World Liberty Financial.
Eric Trump opened the event with a video greeting, praising Korea’s approach to cryptocurrency.
“I truly have to say every time I speak to Koreans, every time I speak to the great people of the country, I'm truly inspired."
He noted Korea’s rapid development of legal and institutional frameworks for crypto, adding,
“This trajectory really makes it clear that Korea is poised to establish itself — no different than America — as the undisputed leader in the blockchain industry in Asia.”
Donald Trump Jr. joined a session on American Bitcoin, reiterating Korea’s potential.
He framed cryptocurrencies as a tool for “financial democratization,” citing his personal experience of being shut out of the banking system.
“If we could be shut off, anyone could be shut off.”
He criticised the legacy financial system as “broken” and described Bitcoin as a means to restore prosperity to those disadvantaged by traditional banking.
Executives from both American Bitcoin and World Liberty Financial appeared in person to engage with Korean industry players.
Mike Ho, executive chairman of American Bitcoin, highlighted the country’s liquidity and enthusiasm for crypto, describing Korea as a “liquidity El Dorado” and noting that “every Korean really likes virtual asset transactions. The retail transaction flow is astonishing.”
Zak Folkman, co-founder of World Liberty Financial, said the company was seeking to collaborate with leading stablecoin projects in Korea.
“We have some incredible partnerships that we're working on this week. We will be back very soon to make those announcements.”
Patrick Witt from the White House’s presidential council on digital assets also joined the discussion, signalling Washington’s support for a thriving crypto ecosystem.
He said,
“We’re at an inflection point right now where, if we get this right and we allow the crypto industry to flourish and to take hold in the United States, there's going to be no turning back the clock.”
Industry insiders are exploring ambitious ideas, including Simon Seojoon Kim, CEO of blockchain VC Hashed, who suggested a “K-digital citizenship” initiative.
He proposed leveraging blockchain to provide integrated services for foreign residents, inspired by Korea’s growing cultural influence and K-pop fandom.
Kim said,
“Hundreds of millions of people are coming together in digital spaces, united by shared cultural values to form new communities.”
Korea is also seeing regulatory progress, with institutional crypto investment being endorsed earlier this year and discussions around a Korean won-pegged stablecoin gaining momentum.
These moves indicate the country is positioning itself for leadership in the Asian crypto sector.
Looking beyond Korea, Donald Trump Jr. is scheduled to appear at TOKEN2049 in Singapore, the world’s largest crypto event, alongside Zach Witkoff, CEO of World Liberty Financial, and David Wachsman, founder of Wachsman.
They will discuss “World Liberty Financial: The Future of Money, Backed by USD1” on the OKX main stage.
The event will host over 25,000 attendees, 500 exhibitors, and 300 speakers across five immersive floors, promising high-level networking and business opportunities.
While Korea emerges as a vibrant market, Coinlive questions whether US-backed crypto ventures can truly sustain long-term influence in Asia.
Projects like American Bitcoin and World Liberty Financial bring capital and visibility, but their dependence on Western frameworks and political backing could limit adaptability in local markets.
Stablecoins and DeFi platforms may thrive temporarily, yet their resilience will hinge on integrating with regional financial systems and regulatory nuances.
So, can these ventures survive beyond hype, or will structural limitations hinder their broader adoption?
BlackRock and Microsoft are launching a $30 billion AI investment fund, in collaboration with Global Infrastructure Partners, to support the growing demand for AI infrastructure. This fund aims to secure up to $70 billion in debt financing to build data centers and energy solutions necessary for advancing AI technology.
AnaisAt TOKEN2049 Singapore, Binance CEO Richard Teng discussed leading the company after founder CZ's imprisonment. Despite challenges, he expressed confidence in Binance's future, emphasizing its strong global team and community. Teng highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance as a competitive edge, particularly amidst evolving regulations and growing institutional adoption, such as ETFs.
CatherineLess than 50 days before the U.S. presidential election, Trump announced the official launch of the new financial revolution project World Liberty Financial, saying that cryptocurrency is a very powerful market. This move faces scrutiny from Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
MiyukiAccording to data collected on the chain, China's cryptocurrency holdings are estimated at $11 billion, and the US government's holdings are ranked first at $12.2 billion. In terms of companies, Musk's Tesla ranked only fourth, lagging behind MicroStrategy's $14.768 billion.
AlexAt TOKEN2049 Singapore, Vitalik Buterin delighted the audience with a surprise performance of the Castle in the Sky theme song. He also discussed Ethereum’s reduced transaction fees as crucial for mainstream adoption and emphasized the need to balance decentralisation with practicality.
CatherineThe evolving landscape of crypto crime in 2024 was one of the focuses at TOKEN2049 Singapore. Although illicit activities have declined, challenges such as ransomware, scams, and sanctions evasion persist. Combating crypto crime in the future will depend on strengthening global collaboration and leveraging blockchain technology for better security and transparency.
CatherineAt TOKEN2049 Singapore, Vitalik Buterin, Star Xu, and Jeremy Allaire discussed the future of crypto, focusing on scalability, stablecoins, mainstream adoption, infrastructure, and self-custody. They emphasized the key factors that will shape the crypto ecosystem, from stablecoins' role in global finance to the need for scalable solutions and improved infrastructure.
CatherineTOKEN2049 discussions emphasized the need for stronger, more resilient permissionless AI systems. As AI rapidly advances, concerns over safety and ethical use raise critical questions about its future impact on society. Could AI pose a danger to humanity?
CatherineIggy Azalea's feud with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin stems from his criticism of celebrity-driven crypto projects like her meme coin, MOTHER. While Buterin focuses on blockchain technology's serious use, Iggy promotes her ventures with bold entertainment events, sparking controversy.
JoyHung Dinh, a notable figure in Vietnam's tech scene, faces allegations of misusing investor funds linked to the GM.AI project, raising concerns about the reputation of Vietnamese developers.
Anais