[Gyeongju APEC] Digital Assets Enter the Global Economic Stage... Dunamu Hosts Future Tech Forum

Official Side Event 'Future Tech Forum' Digital Assets Session
CEO Oh Kyungseok: "Digital assets serve as a bridge between technology and finance"

Dunamu, the operator of the virtual asset exchange Upbit, hosted the 'Future Tech Forum: Digital Assets,' an official side event of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit. The Future Tech Forum is an official side event of the APEC CEO Summit, and it is noteworthy that digital assets were included in the APEC Future Tech Forum, which has traditionally focused on real industries.

Oh Kyungseok, CEO of Dunamu, delivered a welcome address at the forum held on the morning of October 30 at the Wonhwa Hall of Gyeongju Arts Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. He stated, "Digital assets are no longer an innovation limited to a specific field; they serve as a bridge connecting technology and finance, markets and people, regions and economies," emphasizing, "Today's sessions will explore connections from various perspectives."

He continued, "The theme of the digital asset track, 'Connecting the Future of Finance,' reflects our belief that connection is the foundation of progress," adding, "This forum will serve as a platform for discussions to create a new order in future finance, going beyond digital assets."

CEO Oh concluded his welcome address by saying, "All discussions today are united by a single goal-to create a more open and trusted future for finance. I hope today's discussions will spark new ideas, cooperation, and connections, serving as a catalyst for all of us to move toward a future centered on openness, trust, and innovation."

Michael Casey, Chief Advisor of the Digital Currency Initiative at the MIT Media Lab, delivered the keynote speech on the topic of "Stablecoins, AI, and Programmable Money: The Coming Transformation of the Global Financial System." He predicted that the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital assets would fundamentally change the paradigm of financial infrastructure.

The subsequent panel discussions addressed current issues in the digital asset industry, such as stablecoins and financial inclusion. In the first session, "Stablecoins and Cross-Border Innovation: Bridging Global Finance and Regulation," panelists discussed cross-border financial infrastructure and regulatory cooperation, focusing on stablecoins and tokenization. In the second panel session, "Financial Inclusion: Connecting the Unbanked," panelists evaluated that technological innovations like digital assets are lowering barriers to financial access.

In the final session, "Institutionalization and Convergence: The Future of Traditional Finance and Digital Assets," Oh Kyungseok, CEO of Dunamu, Danny Chan, CISO of Mastercard APAC, and Michael Ho, Chairman of the Board at American Bitcoin, participated as panelists. The session was moderated by James Kim, Chairman and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM). Participants concluded that, as the boundaries between finance and digital assets dissolve, building a new financial ecosystem that combines trust and technology is a key challenge.

Yoon Sunjoo, Chief Brand Impact Officer (CBIO) of Dunamu, commented, "This forum was a meaningful event that demonstrated how digital assets have grown into a core industry of the global economy," adding, "It is significant that Upbit had the honor of hosting such an international stage on behalf of Korea."