Blockchain, to the Mainstream... Upbit D Conference 2025 Opens

South Korea's leading blockchain event, the Upbit D Conference (UDC), opens on September 9 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Hosted by Dunamu, a company specializing in blockchain and fintech, UDC has been held annually since its inception in 2018 and has established itself as the country's premier blockchain conference. Now in its eighth year, UDC 2025 is themed "Blockchain, to the Mainstream," focusing on the growing adoption of blockchain technology and its industrial applications.

On the opening stage, Kyungseok Oh, CEO of Dunamu, will make his first official public appearance since taking office to present Dunamu's vision and strategy. CEO Oh stated, "In the internet and artificial intelligence revolutions, we responded defensively to the global big tech onslaught, but in the trust-based blockchain revolution, Korea can take a proactive position and enter the global market." He added, "With Upbit's global scale and technological prowess, we will take the lead on the world stage as Korea's representative."

He further emphasized, "Stablecoins have emerged as a bridge connecting finance and blockchain, and are now at the core of financial sovereignty. The successful activation of a Korean won-based stablecoin depends on the exchange's distribution capabilities and the expansion of blockchain infrastructure."

Notably, he announced, "Dunamu will unveil its proprietary blockchain GIWA Chain and GIWA Wallet on the UDC stage." CEO Oh continued, "We have been at the forefront of expanding the K-Blockchain ecosystem, preparing services such as Upbit Custody for corporate clients and VerifyVASP, a globally recognized travel rule solution. We will strive to help Korea rise as a global leader beyond Asia."

The first keynote session of the day features a special virtual conversation between Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization and the second son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Sunjoo Yoon, Chief Brand Impact Officer (CBIO) of Dunamu. They will engage in an in-depth discussion on the topic "Finance, Business, and Digital Assets: Trends and Future Outlook."

The second keynote session will be a conversation between Patrick McHenry, former Chair of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee who led digital asset-friendly policies in Congress, and CBIO Sunjoo Yoon. Drawing on his experience with the "FIT21" bill, which addressed digital asset classification and regulatory authority, McHenry will shed light on changes in the global regulatory landscape and the new market opportunities that are emerging. This dialogue will provide insights on how to respond to changes as digital assets move into the mainstream.

In addition, world leaders will participate in in-depth discussions on major blockchain trends such as global policy, stablecoins, virtual asset payments, security, artificial intelligence (AI), and Web 3.0. Notably, Marco Dal Lago, Vice President of Global Expansion and Strategic Partnerships at Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin USDT, will give a keynote speech titled "USDT: Financial Inclusion and the Expansion of Global Payments." Dal Lago will highlight various real-world use cases of stablecoins and focus on how they promote financial freedom and inclusion.

Furthermore, Jaeyong Lee, Professor at Seoul National University Business School; Paul Vansis, Global Head of Enterprise Growth at Paxos; and Ross Edward, Senior Director of Global Financial Institutions at Ripple, will hold a deep-dive discussion on "The Convergence of Traditional Finance and Blockchain: The Beginning - Stablecoins." This session will examine how stablecoins, as key infrastructure for global payments and asset management, are acting as a catalyst for digital finance. The panel will also share examples of stablecoin-driven changes in the financial landscape and discuss the challenges and issues that must be addressed for stablecoins to become mainstream financial instruments.

This year's UDC will also feature sessions highlighting Dunamu's future vision as Korea's leading blockchain company. Wonjun Song, Head of Upbit Crypto Product Team, will present on "Global Infrastructure Web3 Access (GIWA)," while Jooyoung Choi, who oversees Upbit's API and Developer Center operations, will take the stage with a presentation titled "Interface to the Mainstream: The Flywheel of VOC-Based Growth." These presentations will unveil Upbit's new challenges and innovation strategies beyond being a virtual asset exchange and offer a glimpse into Dunamu's future expansion plans.

Additionally, Jaeyong Jung, Chief Information Security Officer of Dunamu, will introduce evolving security threats amid advances in AI technology and share recent attack cases and response strategies. He will also present examples of AI-based threat prediction and defense systems, outlining security response strategies. In the following session, participants of Dunamu's "Upside Academy," a program aimed at nurturing security talent for the Web 3.0 era, will take the stage to present their achievements, further emphasizing the significance of training the next generation of security experts.

Meanwhile, a variety of programs befitting a blockchain festival will be held both on-site and online throughout the day. On-site participants can experience conference sessions and panel discussions, digital asset activities via Soulbound Token (SBT) wallets, Non-Fungible Token (NFT) exhibitions, lucky draw events, exhibitions by major domestic and international blockchain companies, and networking programs. Online participants will also have the chance to join certification events and win abundant prizes. This hybrid program offers opportunities for everyone to enjoy and experience blockchain technology up close.