This is the second half of "IOSG In-Depth Insights (Part 1): A Strategic Guide to the Korean Crypto Market – From Macro Opportunities to Success Principles," serving as a practical manual focusing on "how to execute." IOSG will detail the key players you must understand to succeed in the Korean market – including major media outlets, GTM agencies, research firms, and core industry conferences.

3. Introduction of major media organizations

South Korean crypto media plays a crucial role in helping projects navigate the local market, offering a unique advantage due to their deep understanding of Korean trends, regulatory environment, and cultural nuances. With highly engaged and tech-savvy audiences, South Korean crypto media deliver tailored content that resonates with both retail investors and institutional participants. The combination of broad coverage and localized expertise, along with active community engagement, makes them an essential partner for projects hoping to successfully enter and thrive in South Korea. This section highlights several leading media outlets to help projects better understand the media landscape of this key market. (In no particular order)

Followin(@followin_io)

Overview: Followin is an AI-powered crypto news platform that aggregates news, Twitter/X, KOL opinions, and on-chain signals from across the crypto internet, transforming them into a real-time trading intelligence source for retail investors. Founded in 2022, Followin has grown into a leading crypto information infrastructure in Asia, boasting over 3 million users in the Asia-Pacific market and gaining momentum in South Korea. The platform differentiates itself with a smarter AI news engine, providing trending topics and the fastest market movement signals.

Main functions:

Real-time news: Sub-second market change news and price-sensitive event alerts

Alpha Signals: Early Narratives, Whale Activity, and Breakthrough Opportunities Curated by AI

Social Sentiment Analysis: Tracking X/TG data and top KOL transaction notifications to detect sentiment shifts.

Earn and Reward: Participate in airdrop events, earn token rewards, and complete missions.

Followin's services:

Leveraging its massive retail traffic and extensive regional resource network, Followin has successfully supported numerous crypto projects in achieving zero-to-one marketing growth in the Asia-Pacific market. Followin provides an integrated Go-To-Market service layer for crypto projects across the Asia-Pacific region, combining real-time media distribution, localized user growth solutions, and a deep KOL network into a unified launch and growth engine.

PR services: breaking news, PR distribution, online events

Asia Pacific User Growth: A One-Stop Solution with Localized Marketing Strategies

KOL Services: KOL, Community, and Exchange Relationships

Followin emphasizes regional partnerships, co-hosting events, and supporting the Web3 ecosystem. These collaborations help expand media reach, strengthen crypto brands, and foster community building across Asia. The platform's PR services, professional KOL connections, and multilingual channels support crypto projects in reaching new audiences and increasing brand awareness.

Core competitive advantages

High-quality retail trading users: 3 million+ users on the app and web, 1.7 million+ users on social media channels.

Regional and Multilingual Focus: Supports real-time translation in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, covering key markets in South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China.

Asia Pacific Network: Deep Connections with KOLs, Media and Communities

Followin is Asia's leading mobile AI aggregator, leveraging the region's high mobile penetration and the multilingual needs of retail traders. By integrating a vast array of information sources, Followin perfectly caters to traders who prioritize speed over analysis. With strong regional partnerships, the platform demonstrates effective community building and ecosystem support.

Coinness (@CoinNess_)

Overview: Founded in 2018, Coinness is South Korea's largest crypto media and community platform by user base, operating as a leading real-time news outlet in the industry. With over 1 million monthly active users, 150,000+ daily active users, and 300,000 registered community members, the platform is the premier source for breaking crypto news and project exposure. Coinness operates its web services while maintaining a mobile app-centric approach, successfully building a large-scale, app-based crypto news and community platform—an achievement unmatched by traditional web-centric media in South Korea. In terms of mobile app traffic, Coinness ranks only behind the country's two largest exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb, and is a leader among non-exchange crypto platforms.

Main functions and services

Breaking News: 24/7 real-time news updates on the homepage, ensuring concise and impactful news dissemination.

News Section PR: Traditional PR articles with in-depth insights, pinned to the top of the news section for enhanced visibility.

Research: Detailed articles exploring the technical aspects of cryptographic projects

Interview: An interview conducted in written form, in the form of answering pre-set questions.

Pop-up banners: Partners can display promotional banners on the platform to increase visibility.

CoinNessNightLive (CNL): Interactive AMA events held on the Coinness Telegram community averaged over 1000 KYC-verified participants.

Price aggregation: Real-time digital asset prices, including detailed market data on liquidation rates, long/short ratios, funding rates, and open interest.

Core competitive advantages

Real-time Asian Market Intelligence: Coinness focuses on minute-by-minute coverage of South Korean exchange activities (such as Bithumb and Upbit) and tracks regulatory developments across Asia. This provides traders with a competitive edge, particularly in arbitrage and market regulatory insights.

Integrating news into the trading process: By combining breaking news alerts with real-time trading (spot and futures), Coinness provides a seamless user experience from news discovery to position execution.

Deep expertise in the Korean market: With over 7 years of experience focused on the Korean market, Coinness possesses unparalleled depth in local crypto culture, regulatory nuances, and community preferences that is difficult for global competitors to replicate.

Mobile-first architecture: The platform is optimized for mobile devices, offering push notifications, customizable alerts, and offline reading, catering to Asia's high mobile penetration rate and outperforming web-based competitors in the region.

Key differentiating factors

Unlike traditional web-based media, Coinness applies a strict monthly active user (MAU) metric, counting only users who actually engage, not one-time page visitors. This approach delivers stronger and more reliable performance in terms of traffic, pageviews, and user engagement, establishing a clear data-driven advantage in the domestic crypto media landscape. This data credibility has been recognized by leading institutions, enabling Coinness to partner with major companies such as KakaoBank, Hanwha Investment & Securities, and Bithumb for advertising campaigns—a distinction rarely achieved by Web3 native media platforms.

Coinness provides 24/7 coverage of cryptocurrency and blockchain developments, offering real-time breaking news, market analysis, price indices, and expert insights. Its breaking news is distributed through over 30 API partners, including exchanges and media platforms, and is widely and naturally cited by traditional media and crypto KOLs, enabling information to spread rapidly throughout the industry.

As Asia's leading mobile-first encrypted media aggregator, Coinness combines speed, cultural relevance, and integrated trading functionality to capture regional markets. The platform's success lies in its ability to provide active Asian traders with real-time, actionable information. Coinness's deep roots in local markets and seamless integration of news and trading tools make it Asia's leading real-time encrypted media platform.

Blockmedia (@with_blockmedia)

Overview: Launched in 2017, Blockmedia positions itself as South Korea's premier blockchain media outlet, leading the market in the crypto space and consistently ranking among the top in its category. It is a media organization dedicated to educating and engaging a blockchain and cryptocurrency audience. Initially an online media platform, Blockmedia now engages with investors through various channels, including YouTube, Telegram, and X. The platform has gained widespread recognition through its annual "BlockFesta" conference, which attracts blockchain projects from around the world. With over 36,000 social media followers and 58.7,000 YouTube subscribers, Blockmedia maintains 4 million monthly active users and solidifies its market leadership in the region by offering comprehensive, live coverage, interviews with global projects, and original research.

Main services and functions

Press Releases: Publish press releases on Blockmedia and distribute them to Telegram (35K followers), including translation and editing. Enhance exposure through Google SEO, Naver, and Telegram.

Featured Articles: Internal research articles provided by the Blockmedia production team, offering in-depth insights into partner projects, published on official Blockmedia channels and CoinMarketCap.

Interviews (video/text): Video and text interviews with the production team. Published on YouTube (58.7K subscribers) and shared on Telegram and Twitter.

External dissemination: Distribution through other Web3 media outlets to maximize reach and visibility for retail traders and users.

KOL Bridging: Blockmedia selects top KOLs for collaboration to enhance content promotion and marketing campaigns, tailoring content and budgets for each KOL.

Platform Highlights

News and Market Coverage: Real-time encrypted and stock market updates, in-depth coverage of technology, industry trends, and major announcements.

Regulatory expertise: Detailed coverage of South Korean regulations, including updates on stablecoins and local market policies.

Interviews/People: CEO interviews, on-site events, and market analysis from industry leaders.

Research: Proprietary reports on token analysis, investment insights, DeFi protocol security, market dynamics, and forecasts, developed in collaboration with other research firms.

The video content is exceptional: the YouTube channel maintains 58.7K subscribers, with 3,744 videos and a total of 9.65 million views, including daily content such as Federal Reserve interest rate analysis and in-depth analysis of agreements.

Real-time news feed: Hourly news updates via Telegram, delivering market data and breaking news alerts in real time.

competitive advantage

Exceptional Regulatory Coverage: Blockmedia offers exceptional in-depth coverage of South Korean regulations, real-time event updates, and institutional intelligence. Its regulatory analysis goes beyond simple news aggregation, providing insights unmatched by competitors.

Original Research: Blockmedia delivers targeted research through its team of professional analysts, providing exclusive market reports and insights.

Video Content Leadership: With its "블미TV" channel, Blockmedia is a leader in video content, providing daily updates and in-depth technical analysis on global projects, Federal Reserve interest rates, and more, setting it apart from local competitors.

Comprehensive multimedia coverage: Unlike other leading mobile-first media platforms, Blockmedia excels in web-based multimedia content, combining traffic performance with content depth.

Blockmedia's balanced strategy, combining high traffic performance, proprietary research, and multimedia engagement, has made it a leading platform for institutional and retail cryptocurrency audiences in South Korea. Its superior regulatory coverage and original research make it the preferred source for sophisticated investors and Web3 projects seeking broad exposure and in-depth insights. Blockmedia continues to lead in web-based reporting, serving a diverse audience with comprehensive news, interviews, videos, and research content.

Bloomingbit블루밍비트(@bloomingbit_io)

Overview: Bloomingbit is a leading South Korean cryptocurrency and blockchain media platform. Established as part of Hankyung Media Group (whose core publication is The Korea Economic Daily), South Korea's largest financial media group, Bloomingbit focuses on providing crypto investors with credible, real-time news and insights, emphasizing clarity and ease of use to help users make informed decisions without sifting through fragmented information. Positioning itself as a starting point for cryptocurrency investment, the platform offers curated reporting by dedicated blockchain journalists, targeting both Korean and international audiences with bilingual content. Its team comprises writers and editors, targeting English-speaking markets worldwide. They translate complex stories into clear and understandable English to share with readers.

Main features

Real-time news updates, expert-curated market trend analysis, and an easy-to-use interface allow users to easily access cryptocurrency information.

By enabling mobile access through its app, it transforms complex stories into actionable insights and integrates social media sharing capabilities to expand its reach.

In-depth analysis, such as Bitcoin predictions for 2026, reports on major transactions, and analysis of economic crossroads.

It offers a variety of cryptocurrency content: startups issuing tokens, exchange-listed cryptocurrencies, developers launching products, PR firms collaborating with crypto clients, projects conducting IDOs or ICOs, DAO governance, and more.

Bloomingbit's main services

Organic news releases: Editorially selected content (not advertising-driven). (e.g., token launches, technology updates, industry collaborations, public events, and reports)

Paid content placement: Promotional or time-sensitive content (such as exchange listings, token sales, product launches, AMA announcements, etc.).

Press Release Distribution: Enhance press release SEO and properly tag them for long-term search engine rankings. (e.g., company updates, financial reports, investor news, security audits, agreement changes, etc.)

Bloomingbit's services cover comprehensive news coverage of blockchain, Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, DeFi, Web3, altcoins, regulatory developments, exchange activities (such as Upbit and Bithumb), and global trends, with a focus on the South Korean market.

Core competitive advantages

The credibility and support of traditional media: As part of Hankyung, Bloomingbit benefits from established journalistic standards and a broad financial network, setting it apart from other independent media. This gives Bloomingbit an advantage in attracting serious investors.

Insightful planning and user-centric content: Bloomingbit emphasizes actionable stories handpicked by journalists, contrasting with the rapid updates of other media outlets that can overwhelm users with information. Distribution channels include Upbit, Bithumb, Tradingview, hankyung.com, NaverNews, and others.

Events and Leadership: Bloomingbit actively participates in conferences such as Korea Investment Week, highlighting its influence and attracting investors through market consolidation forecasts and economic analysis, especially given the high cryptocurrency traffic in Korea (leading Asia).

Bloomingbit combines traditional media support, curated content, and bilingual accessibility, making it a reliable source of encrypted information in South Korea. While not necessarily having the highest traffic among major platforms, its partnership with Hankyung, South Korea's largest economics magazine, and the backing of local investment firm Hashed, gives it a significant advantage in credibility and depth, as well as institutional exposure. As a subsidiary of Hankyung, Bloomingbit is gradually gaining more momentum in the market.

TokenPost(@tokenpost)

Overview: TokenPost is South Korea's pioneering blockchain and digital asset media platform. Founded in 2017, it was the country's first professional blockchain media organization. TokenPost has evolved into a comprehensive platform connecting the domestic and international blockchain industries, emphasizing trust, global coverage, and professional reporting. With over 5.2 million monthly visits, 16.4 million page views, and over 1.1 million newsletter subscriptions, it has become a leading domestic blockchain media outlet, providing fact-based insights into cryptocurrencies, DeFi, AI, Web3, policies, and industry trends, rather than mere hype.

Main features

Massive scale and reach: attracting over 5.2 million visits and 16.4 million pageviews per month, demonstrating strong user loyalty through high and direct traffic.

Bilingual and Global Focus: Offering content in Korean and English, and expanding into markets such as Thailand, promoting international users' access to and understanding of local Korean cryptocurrency news and trends.

Innovative tools and integrations: Provides real-time price tracking (such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, HBAR, BNB, XRP), blockchain-certified articles to ensure transparency, a KOL index to measure the influence of opinion leaders, and audio analytics through the TokenPost podcast.

Data-driven analytics: We provide TPI (TokenPost Index) for market trend assessment and collaborate with data providers such as Kaiko and Messari for in-depth research.

Main services

News Coverage: Providing objective, fact-based reporting on blockchain, the crypto market, DeFi, AI, Web3, regulatory updates, and security issues, including breaking news and exclusive interviews.

Research and Insights: We provide in-depth market analysis, hidden market insights, and educational content through a knowledge encyclopedia, lowering the barrier to entry for users.

Portfolio management tool: South Korea's first integrated crypto portfolio service, allowing users to track assets across exchanges, simulate strategies, view performance rankings, and receive customized news.

Community and Events: Host interactive forums, rewarded lounges, and offline events such as roadshows, providing industry education and networking opportunities.

Core competitive advantages

TokenPost stands out among leading media organizations through its top traffic rankings, innovative tools, and role as a bridge connecting local and global markets.

Scale and reach: With a large number of monthly visitors and strong domestic traffic, as well as broader international access, it surpasses its competitors.

Innovation and Practicality: TokenPost's portfolio management tools, blockchain notarization, and KOL index elevate it beyond a news platform, offering tangible user value lacking in its competitors. TokenPost combines data analytics and simulation tools to enable deeper user interaction, aligning with its "smart media" positioning.

Content depth and expertise: Focusing on insights, exclusive interviews, and research (such as collaborations with Kaiko and Messari), TokenPost provides objective analysis, avoiding hype. TokenPost's event hosting (such as Onchain Symposium) and policy focus give it a stronger thought leadership position in the market.

Global and Partnerships Focus: Expanding into the Thai market and partnering with companies like Crypto.com and Chiliz to establish TokenPost as a leading local media outlet.

Overall, TokenPost, with its massive scale, user-centric tools, and insightful content, has become a pioneer in driving a sustainable ecosystem in South Korea's dynamic crypto market, leading in traffic and innovation and building bridges to a global audience.

4. Introduction to major Go-To-Market organizations

In the South Korean cryptocurrency market, the role of marketing agencies is undeniable, with many high-performing agencies—including those that prefer anonymity—playing a crucial role. Here, based on available data and information, we highlight three agencies: INFCryptoLab, 071Labs, and DeSpread, emphasizing their capabilities in cryptocurrency marketing. For more information about these agencies, please feel free to contact us. (In no particular order)

INFCryptoLab(@INF_CryptoLab)

Overview: INFCryptoLab is a leading Web3 accelerator and marketing company in South Korea, renowned for its rapid success since its founding in 2020. As one of the largest marketing agencies in South Korea, INF has gained a strong reputation for helping crypto projects navigate and thrive in the Korean market.

Key Services: KOL Marketing and Management: Brand story building and strategic planning to ensure a continuous brand presence. Identifying top-performing KOLs to achieve maximum results with minimal expenditure. Tailored content and sustained exposure, not just one-off content releases. Tracking performance through actionable data.

Research and Education: Providing comprehensive research across Web2/Web3 platforms, media, and academia. Offering online and offline educational content to enhance market awareness.

SEO/SEM and Blogs: Partner with leading blog KOLs to improve visibility on search engines, with a focus on platforms such as Naver.

Traditional and Encrypted PR: Extensive experience in selecting suitable media partners to ensure broad exposure. Comprehensive coverage of over 20 media outlets across Web2 and Web3 platforms.

Event Organization (Online and Offline): Extensive experience in organizing crypto events, including online interactive events, AMAs, offline conferences, and hackathons. YouTube/TV Interviews: Providing projects with opportunities to be featured on top Korean startup YouTube channels.

Community Management: Managing and building the Telegram community in South Korea, driving engagement through KOL support and localized activities.

Key Partners: INFCryptoLab has collaborated with leading global Web3 projects, including Sui, Avalanche, Injective, NEO, Openledger, Sahara, MagicLabs, and Walrus. They have also established partnerships with renowned companies such as Uniswap, Mantle, 0gLabs, OrbiterFinance, Oasys, HashkeyGlobal, Plume, KiteAI, RedStone, ZKPass, Jito, and Pyth.

Notable success stories

SUI: Our exclusive marketing partner in South Korea, with a partnership of over 2.5 years, and collaboration on multiple projects on the SUI platform.

0GLabs: KOL influence contributed 30% of its node sales.

Aethir: spearheaded the market entry strategy for tokens and products, generating revenue for Korean institutions.

HyundaiCard Conference: Successfully co-hosted an event with HyundaiCard.

KiteAI: By focusing on KOLs and INF, we have enhanced brand awareness in the Korean market and secured a listing opportunity in Korea.

INFCryptoLab offers flexible, high-quality services and boasts a team of contract-based freelance KOLs. Their customized service packages cover both Web2 and Web3 channels, ensuring successful entry of overseas projects into the Korean market.

071Labs (@071_labs)

Overview: 071Labs is a leading GTM incubator and venture capital firm in South Korea, renowned for its large client base and market influence. By leveraging innovative blockchain technology, investments, and diversified business models, 071Labs supports the growth of blockchain startups and promising projects. Working closely with project teams, KOLs, and media, 071Labs helps turn ideas into reality, enabling its partners to take a leading position in the digital economy.

Main services: KOL Ambassador Program and Corporate Alliances; planning and management of KOL Ambassador Programs and Alliances to enhance project exposure and credibility; PR and media promotion.

Publish public relations content and articles in the crypto space and traditional mainstream media to enhance brand presence and ensure strategic media exposure.

Community building and viral marketing: Establishing and managing online communities, conducting viral marketing campaigns, and promoting engagement and awareness in the Korean market.

YouTube Content Creation: Create and produce YouTube content, promote projects, and reach a wider audience.

Blogging, Editorial Services, and SEO: Content creation, blog publishing, and SEO strategies to improve project online visibility and drive traffic growth.

Key Case Studies/Performance Records

PerpDEX Growth: Driving billions in trading volume growth for perpetual DEX partners

South Korean node distribution: generated $2 million in node sales for projects such as Aethir, Carv, Delysium, and Moonveil.

Web2 → On-Chain User Acquisition: Helping to bring Web2 users on-chain – making South Korea Catizen's second-largest market, generating $1 million in gaming revenue within 8 months.

Founder Exposure (Web2 Retail Coverage): Securing interviews with founders in traditional media to enhance their digital presence and reach the Web2 retail market.

Provide Product-Market Fit (PMF) support to Web2 companies: Build and promote Tada mini-apps, support Tada's service offerings, and improve PMF (Product-Market Fit).

Marketing and Portfolio

071Labs collaborates with top blockchain projects in its marketing efforts, including: Catizen, UXLink, Blum, Pendle, Vana, Aethir, Carv, TON, Metis, VeChain, Ultiverse, HookedProtocol, MVL, NaviProtocol, Scallop, Delysium, Sleepless, Tellor, ParticleNetwork, Farcana, Prom, Metacean, Hippocrat, SaharaAI, io.net, GoPlus, Sonic, Aster, and OpenEden.

In terms of investments, these include: ParticleNetwork, Catizen, UXLink, Zerobase, Solv, Nubit, Aria, Vanila Finance, MultipleNetwork, Aimeme, OpenEden, Aster, Momentum, Moss, Tria, and Billions.

As South Korea's largest GTM incubator and venture capital firm, 071Labs provides a comprehensive ecosystem for blockchain projects, covering all aspects from fundraising and marketing to community building and viral growth. They own DokdoDAO (South Korea's largest KOLDAO with 50,000+ members) and Blockstreet (a South Korean crypto PR/media agency with 4,000 daily active users), giving them a competitive edge in the market.

By pioneering blockchain technology and reshaping the cryptocurrency ecosystem, 071Labs creates innovative business models and unlocks new opportunities. They focus on collaborating with innovators, creatives, and visionaries, accelerating startup growth through strategic investments, technological expertise, and partnerships. 071Labs is committed to ensuring long-term innovation and market leadership, building a sustainable foundation for the future of the digital economy. As architects in the blockchain space, they are the ideal partner for projects seeking to revolutionize industries.

DeSpread (@DeSpreadTeam)

Overview: Founded in 2019, DeSpread is one of the largest Web3 growth studios in terms of client base and market influence, providing Go-To-Market (GTM) strategic consulting for blockchain projects in the Asia Pacific Region (APAC). DeSpread boasts over 30 experts and is a pioneer and innovator in Web3 GTM growth in South Korea. To date, DeSpread has supported over 100 global blockchain projects without relying on external investment. The agency is recognized for driving Web3 growth in South Korea through data-driven strategies, helping overseas projects successfully enter the South Korean market.

Key services include: brand consulting; customized GTM (Gross Market Strategies) development based on market insights and narrative development; consulting on Web3 product market fit (PMF) and brand building; building local partnerships and providing ecosystem support for market entry.

Growth Strategy and Media Communications: Data-driven product growth and marketing strategy consulting. Media relations management, crisis communication, and social media strategy. Comprehensive online/offline event operations and media distribution.

Research and Market Insights: We provide in-depth market research reports and data-driven insights. We help clients track industry trends and build valuable connections.

Validator Services: Validators and Infrastructure: Mainnet validators operating multiple networks, including Hyperliquid, Berachain, Story, Monad, Stacks, and Avail, while also serving as LST validators on Berachain, Hyperliquid, and Monad, providing trusted technical support to the region.

DAT (Digital Asset Treasury) Strategist: Pioneering Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) opportunities in South Korea, connecting global DAT investors with top South Korean financial institutions. Developing customized asset acquisition strategies and providing tailored solutions for investors with different risk appetites.

Key Partners and Case Studies: As South Korea's earliest and longest-established GTM company, DeSpread partnered with projects such as Solana, Stacks, TheSandbox, and Filecoin from its inception. Over time, their partner list has expanded to include numerous successful projects such as Aptos, Sui, Arbitrum, Berachain, Soneium, Story, Babylon, and Gensyn.

As a deep ecosystem participant, DeSpread is committed to fostering a comprehensive GTM strategy through a two-track framework: 1. Matching on-chain product providers with the needs of existing and potential on-chain users. 2. Connecting projects with investment decision-makers through education and relationships. These goals are built upon its core services—brand advisory, growth strategy, research, and validator services—and strategically integrate DAT coverage as a special tool into the ecosystem to promote institutional collaboration and enterprise usability.

DeSpread also expanded its user adoption capabilities to include both retail and bulk users through the DATCON 2025 conference, achieving overall GTM coverage for users and investors.

5. Introduction of Major Research Companies

South Korean exchanges heavily rely on research firm reports during due diligence for project listings, highlighting the importance of neutral and credible research for market participation. With firms like FourPillars, Tiger Research, and Xangle leading the way, South Korea's research ecosystem is consolidating into a powerful force shaping its cryptocurrency market. (In no particular order)

FourPillars (@FourPillarsFP)

Overview: FourPillars is one of Asia's fastest-growing crypto research firms, headquartered in Seoul, focused on providing professional, data-driven analytics to institutions and crypto natives. Founded with a mission to deliver high-quality industry insights, the company aims to shape the Asian blockchain narrative through research, infrastructure, and impact. With a dedicated research team, FourPillars is expanding its influence beyond South Korea, encompassing English-speaking countries and the wider Asian market.

Core Business and Highlights: FourPillars' core business revolves around producing in-depth research to bridge the gap between institutional investors and the crypto ecosystem. The company partners with blockchain projects to foster ecosystem growth, including business expansion and developer opportunities in South Korea. They have also launched the validator brand – FPValidated – to further support ecosystem development.

Research reports and articles: Providing comprehensive guidance and outlook analysis reports, with neutral content, aimed at builders, retail investors and investors.

Validator Service: Introducing theory-driven blockchain validators for L1/L2 blockchains, targeting investors and traders.

Data-driven tools: Provides public dashboards for crypto projects to analyze and display key metrics.

Ecosystem contribution: Promote global projects to the Korean market through event reviews and project collaboration initiatives.

Strengths and Conclusions: FourPillars focuses on institutional-grade, forward-looking research, providing in-depth technical analysis (e.g., ZK proofs, Real Assets (RWAs), ecosystem prospects). Its research aims to help crypto natives with strategic planning, and its narrative-driven approach combines technical depth with actionable insights to drive ecosystem growth. This focus sets FourPillars apart from the competition.

Selective validators: Only top validators operate on selected chains.

Verified product market fit: The study has demonstrated clear market suitability.

Scalable growth: Validators are used for strategic expansion, rather than diverting attention from core business operations.

Trusted by industry leaders: Widely trusted by founders, funds, and the community.

First-mover advantage: a pioneer in shaping institutional-level crypto narratives in South Korea.

Expanding regional influence: Expanding its influence across the wider Asian region.

Tiger Research(@tiger_research)

Overview: Tiger Research is a South Korean research and consulting firm focused on the Web3 and blockchain sectors, with a strong emphasis on the Asian market. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Seoul, the company has branches in key cities such as Tokyo, Hanoi, and Jakarta, expanding its operations in regions including Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and China. Tiger Research provides comprehensive solutions for global Web3 projects to enter and expand in the Asian market, leveraging its deep understanding of the local market to help projects successfully launch in Asia.

Core Business and Highlights: Tiger Research positions itself as a "guide" for global Web3 projects in Asia, providing a comprehensive, execution-oriented approach to market entry. The company combines bottom-up market research with a results-driven business strategy to minimize risk and help clients accelerate growth. Tiger Research emphasizes long-term partnerships, problem-solving capabilities, and leveraging local networks to create sustainable success in complex markets.

Market Research and Reporting: We offer customized, in-depth reports covering regulations, market trends, and ecosystem dynamics. These reports are published twice a week, tracking the latest developments in countries such as South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Business Development and Consulting: Providing tailored Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, compliance guidance, and market entry solutions. Daily monitoring of government policies and trends in target regions.

Partnerships and Ecosystem Building: Leveraging over 30 local partners to foster collaboration and create synergies. For example, co-publishing reports on the Southeast Asian market with other research firms. Also serving as a research partner for events such as Malaysia Blockchain Week.

Advantages and conclusions

TigerResearch distinguishes itself in the Korean crypto research field from data-centric global firms through its practice-oriented, execution-focused approach and regional expertise. The company provides customized research reports covering regulations, market trends, and business dynamics, emphasizing practical implementation rather than mere conceptualization. This results-oriented approach enables clients to adapt quickly and expand in a rapidly evolving market.

TigerResearch provides end-to-end solutions, from market analysis to complete Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, helping clients minimize risk and accelerate growth. With multi-regional business coverage, a deep local network, and a commitment to trust building, TigerResearch is a practical and reliable partner for Web3 growth in Asia. By prioritizing actionable insights and long-term partnerships, TigerResearch helps clients navigate complex regional markets and achieve sustainable success.

Xangle(@Xangle_official)

Overview: Xangle is a South Korean Web3 research and infrastructure company focused on providing institutional-grade market research, on-chain ecosystem infrastructure, and transparency tools for the Web3 ecosystem. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Seoul, Xangle is widely regarded as a key analytical reference point for the South Korean crypto market, one of the world's largest crypto trading hubs. Xangle's mission is to support businesses and investors through data-driven decision-making while ensuring compliance.

Core Business and Highlights: Xangle's work is research-based, which supports its broader role in ecosystem transparency and infrastructure development. Its core activities include protocol-level analysis, research publications, and operating on-chain infrastructure such as blockchain explorers and validator nodes.

Research and Market Intelligence: Providing institutional-grade research covering regulatory updates and future prospects, which is available to institutional users through platforms such as Bloomberg Terminal.

Protocol Disclosure and Information Standards: Maintaining a standardized disclosure framework, focusing on the accurate communication of blockchain project protocol mechanisms, governance structures, and token designs.

Blockchain Explorer and Ecosystem Infrastructure: Design and operate the official blockchain explorer and ecosystem hub to provide integrated on-chain data access, governance information, and ecosystem overview for L1 and L2 networks.

Validators and On-Chain Operations: Operate validator infrastructure for selected blockchain networks, supporting cybersecurity and governance participation.

Strengths and Conclusions: Xangle distinguishes itself through its quantitative on-chain data and institutional-grade integration, positioning itself as a leading platform for real-time analytics and compliance in the Asian crypto market. Unlike other qualitative or consultancy-oriented companies, Xangle offers evidence-based research with a particular focus on regulatory alignment and market transparency, making it especially suitable for South Korea's stringent crypto environment. Its data reliability, regulatory focus, and global integration make Xangle a valuable tool for institutions, exchanges, and crypto projects in Asia's highly competitive crypto market.

6. Introduction to major blockchain conferences in South Korea and strategic value assessment

South Korea boasts a mature and diverse blockchain conference ecosystem, with major events categorized into global conferences, exchange-led developer conferences, technology-driven builder gatherings, and government-supported regional events. Below is a detailed overview of six key conferences, covering crucial information such as conference details, organizers, target audience, and impact assessment. We will also focus on evaluating the strategic value of sponsoring these events for project token listings on major South Korean exchanges (such as Upbit or Bithumb) and for enhancing project brand awareness in the South Korean market.

Overview of major blockchain conferences in South Korea

Korea Blockchain Week (KBW): KBW is South Korea's largest and most internationally influential annual blockchain event, held annually since 2018. It is not only an industry conference but also a week-long Web3 festival, with its flagship conference, "IMPACT," at its core.

Organizers: FACTBLOCK (founder and organizer), and co-organizers such as Hashed (a major crypto venture capital firm).

Target audience: Global Web3 leaders, top developers, international investors, corporate executives, and general crypto enthusiasts.

Impact Assessment: KBW serves as the premier bridge connecting global projects with the Korean market. Boasting the highest media exposure and broadest international engagement, it is the preferred platform for building a global and Korean market network.

UpbitDConference (UDC, UpbitD Conference): UDC is a global blockchain conference hosted by Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Originally named the "Upbit Developer Conference," the conference has expanded to cover multiple areas including technology, policy, and industry trends.

Organizer: Dunamu (Upbit's operator).

Target audience: Blockchain developers, industry experts, regulatory representatives, and anyone interested in the Upbit ecosystem.

Impact Assessment: UDC holds the highest direct strategic value for projects seeking a listing on Upbit. As a non-profit event dedicated to fostering the ecosystem, a project's appearance on UDC is seen as a strong signal of Upbit's recognition of its technological and ecological value.

ETHSeoul: ETHSeoul is an annual developer event focused on the Ethereum ecosystem, typically including hackathons and technology summits. It is the core event for the global Ethereum community in South Korea.

Organizers: KryptoPlanet, Dunamu, and other organizations provided support.

Target audience: Ethereum developers, researchers, DeFi/NFT protocol teams, and Ethereum enthusiasts.

Impact Assessment: It is one of the purest gatherings for tech developers in South Korea. For projects built on Ethereum, ETHSeoul is a key platform for showcasing technological innovation, attracting the core South Korean developer community, and gaining attention from global institutions such as the Ethereum Foundation.

BUIDLAsia: BUIDLAsia is a technology-oriented conference focused on "builders" and protocol development. Its core values lie in high-quality technical exchange and community building.

Organizers: KryptoPlanet et al.

Target audience: Core developers, blockchain researchers, protocol teams, and projects focused on technological innovation.

Influence Assessment: Highly regarded within the Korean developer community, BUIDLAsia is an excellent platform for projects to showcase their technical capabilities and code quality. For technology-driven projects, recognition on BUIDLAsia helps them stand out during the exchange's technical evaluation process.

Blockchain Week in Busan (BWB): BWB is a regional event supported by the Busan Metropolitan Government, aiming to promote Busan's vision of becoming a "blockchain city".

Organized by Busan Digital Assets Nexus (BDAN), with support from the Busan Metropolitan Government and major media groups.

Target audience: Institutional leaders, regulatory officials, local government representatives, and projects focused on RWA (Real-World Asset) and STO (Security Token Offering).

Impact Assessment: BWB possesses a strong regulatory and institutional background. For projects seeking collaboration with traditional Korean financial institutions or focusing on compliant sectors such as RWA and STO, BWB offers a unique point of contact.

 ▲Comparison of major blockchain conferences in South Korea

Strategic Assessment of Sponsorship for Token Listing and Brand Building: In South Korea, token listing and brand building are highly professional and regulated processes. Sponsoring top blockchain conferences is not a direct "passport" to listing, but it is an indispensable strategic step that can significantly enhance a project's competitiveness in exchange evaluations.

Enhancing brand awareness and local legitimacy: The Korean market has extremely high requirements for localization and "local legitimacy".

Building Trust: Sponsoring key conferences, especially UDC and KBW, which have a strong presence in South Korea, sends a signal to South Korean investors and regulators that the project is well-funded and committed to the South Korean market.

Media Exposure: South Korean media outlets provide extensive coverage of these conferences. By sponsoring events and speaking at these conferences, projects can gain high-quality media exposure and directly reach the South Korean cryptocurrency community.

Technical endorsement: Participation in ETHSeoul or BUIDLAsia provides strong technical endorsement for a project. Korean exchanges (especially Upbit) highly value a project's technical foundation, and active participation in these hardcore technical conferences is strong proof of technical strength.

Facilitating token listings on exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb: South Korea's five major exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax) have formed the Digital Asset Exchange Consortium (DAXA) and follow a unified set of self-regulatory listing and delisting guidelines. For example...

A. Upbit's IPO strategic priorities: UDC and ETHSeoul

Upbit is operated by Dunamu, and its listing assessment emphasizes "proof of service" and "proof of developer".

UDC: Provides the most direct connection to the Upbit ecosystem.

ETHSeoul: For Ethereum ecosystem projects, deep involvement on ETHSeoul (such as sponsoring hackathons) can attract the attention of the Upbit technical team, as Upbit pays close attention to the technical progress of the Ethereum ecosystem.

B. Bithumb's strategic focus for its IPO: KBW

Bithumb places more emphasis on liquidity, community engagement, and market demand.

KBW: The best platform to showcase the project's global influence and attract the attention of Korean retail investors/market makers.

XangleAdoption: By showcasing its collaboration with a major South Korean company, it demonstrates the project's commercial sustainability and meets Bithumb's stringent quality requirements.

Strategic Summary: Sponsoring top-tier blockchain conferences in South Korea is a crucial part of a project's strategy for entering the South Korean market, and sponsorship fees should be viewed as an investment in marketing and public relations. This investment helps the project stand out from numerous applicants in the highly competitive and regulated South Korean market, winning the favor of exchanges. Blockchain conferences in South Korea are strategic high ground for projects entering this market. Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) offers the widest network, the UpbitD Conference (UDC) is of the highest value for Upbit's listing, ETHSeoul and BUIDLAsia provide indispensable technical endorsement, and BWB provides assistance in corporate partnerships and regulatory compliance, respectively. By strategically sponsoring and participating in these events, projects can not only significantly enhance their brand awareness in South Korea but also lay a solid foundation of local legitimacy, technical strength, and institutional trust for meeting the increasingly stringent listing evaluation standards of exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb.

7. In conclusion

The growing influence of South Korea’s crypto ecosystem has made it a key market for anyone looking toward the future of Web3 to watch.

In 2025, South Korea's crypto ecosystem experienced rapid growth, benefiting from technological advancements and a cautious yet progressive regulatory policy. The country boasts one of the world's largest retail investor bases, with millions of active users and trading volume comparable to traditional stock markets. South Korea's unique crypto culture, characterized by enthusiasm and pragmatic regulatory measures, is fostering a safer and more compliant market.

As a major global crypto hub, South Korea offers tremendous opportunities for international investors. However, to succeed in this market, overseas projects must work closely with local crypto players—including media, GTM agencies, research firms, event organizers, and even individual KOLs. These partnerships are crucial for understanding the unique cultural differences, regulatory environment, and market dynamics of the South Korean market. Local agencies can help tailor marketing strategies, while research firms provide valuable insights and data to ensure compliance and market relevance. Events like Korea Blockchain Week also offer valuable opportunities for international projects to connect with local stakeholders and bridge the gap between domestic and international participants. Simultaneously, local companies are eager to collaborate with international projects, making the South Korean market highly receptive to foreign projects.

Despite ongoing challenges such as complex regulations, exchange dominance, and market share competition, South Korea continues to solidify its prominent position in the crypto space, demonstrating how smart regulation and rapid adoption can go hand in hand. Its growing influence underscores South Korea as a key market for Web3 projects seeking successful entry into the Asian and global markets. Building relationships with local players is not just an advantage—it's a prerequisite for successful entry into the South Korean crypto market.

Note: At the request of some partners, we have excluded certain non-public information and names. Furthermore, we will continuously update our marketing partnership and resource database to provide valuable references and potential collaboration opportunities for projects.

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