This article is the second part of "IOSG Deep Observation (Part 1): Strategic Guide to the Korean Crypto Market - From Macro Opportunities to Success Rules," serving as a practical manual focused on "how to execute." IOSG will detail the key players necessary for success in the Korean market, including major media, GTM agencies, research firms, and core industry conferences.

3. Introduction to Major Media Agencies

Korean crypto media plays a crucial role in helping projects navigate the local market, offering unique advantages due to their deep understanding of Korean trends, regulatory environments, and cultural nuances. With a highly engaged and tech-savvy audience, Korean crypto media provides tailored content that resonates with both retail investors and institutional participants. The combination of extensive coverage and localized expertise, along with active community engagement, makes them essential partners for projects aiming to successfully enter and thrive in Korea. This section highlights several leading media agencies to help projects better understand the media landscape in this key market. (Order is not prioritized)

Followin(@followin_io)

Overview: Followin is an AI-driven crypto news platform that aggregates the entire crypto internet—news, Twitter/X, KOL opinions, on-chain signals—and transforms them into real-time trading intelligence for retail investors. Founded in 2022, Followin has developed into Asia's leading crypto information infrastructure, boasting over 3 million users in the Asia-Pacific market and gaining momentum in Korea. The platform stands out with its smarter AI news engine and provides trending topics and the fastest market movement signals.

Key Features:

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

Alpha Signals: AI-curated early narratives, whale activities, and breakout opportunities

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

Earning and Rewards: Participate in airdrop activities, earn token rewards, and engage in tasks

Followin's Services:

Leveraging its massive retail traffic and extensive regional resource network, Followin successfully supports numerous crypto projects in achieving zero-to-one marketing growth in the Asia-Pacific market. Followin provides integrated Go-To-Market service layers for crypto projects across the Asia-Pacific, 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: 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. Its collaborations help expand media influence, strengthen crypto brands, and foster community building across Asia. The platform's PR services, professional KOL connections, and multilingual channel support enable crypto projects to reach new audiences and enhance brand awareness.

Core Competitive Advantages

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

Regional and multilingual focus: Real-time translation supporting English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, covering key markets in 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 multilingual needs among 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 showcases effective community building and ecosystem support.

Coinness(@CoinNess_)

Overview: Coinness, established in 2018, is the largest crypto media and community platform in Korea by user base, operating as a primary real-time news line for the industry. The platform serves over 1 million monthly active users, 150,000+ daily active users, and 300,000 registered community members, making it the go-to for breaking crypto news and project exposure. Coinness operates a network service while maintaining a mobile app-centric approach, successfully building a large-scale app-based crypto news and community platform—an achievement unmatched by Korea's traditional web-centric media. In terms of mobile app traffic, Coinness ranks just behind the country's two largest exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb, and leads among non-exchange crypto platforms.

Key Features and Services

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

News Area PR: Traditional PR articles with in-depth insights pinned at the top of the news area to enhance visibility

Research: Detailed articles exploring the technical aspects of crypto projects

Interviews: Text-based interviews conducted in a Q&A format

Popup Banners: Partners can display promotional banners on the platform to increase visibility

CoinNessNightLive (CNL): Interactive AMA events held in the Coinness Telegram community, averaging over 1,000 KYC-verified participants

Price Aggregation: Real-time digital asset prices, including liquidation rates, long-short ratios, funding rates, and detailed market data on open contracts

Core Competitive Advantages

Real-time Asian Market Intelligence: Coinness focuses on sub-minute reporting of activities on Korean exchanges (such as Bithumb and Upbit), tracking regulatory developments across Asia. This provides traders with a competitive edge, especially for arbitrage and market regulatory insights.

Integrated News into Trading Workflow: By combining breaking news alerts with real-time trading (spot and futures), Coinness offers 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 maintains unparalleled depth in local crypto culture, regulatory nuances, and community preferences, which 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 and outperforming web-based competitors in the region.

Key Differentiators

Unlike traditional web-based media, Coinness applies strict monthly active user (MAU) standards, counting only actively engaged users rather than one-time page visitors. This approach provides stronger and more reliable performance in terms of traffic, page views, 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 collaborate on advertising campaigns with major companies such as KakaoBank, Hanwha Investment & Securities, and Bithumb—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, allowing information to spread rapidly throughout the industry.

As Asia's leading mobile-first crypto media aggregator, Coinness combines speed, cultural relevance, and integrated trading features 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 the local market and seamless integration of news and trading tools make it Asia's leading real-time crypto media platform.

Blockmedia(@with_blockmedia)

Overview: Launched in 2017, Blockmedia defines itself as Korea's first blockchain media, leading the market in the crypto space and ranking high in the crypto category. It is a media agency dedicated to educating and engaging blockchain and cryptocurrency audiences. Originally an online media platform, Blockmedia now interacts with investors through various channels, including YouTube, Telegram, and X. The platform has gained widespread recognition through its annual "BlockFesta" conference, attracting global blockchain projects. With over 36K social followers and 58.7K YouTube subscribers, Blockmedia maintains 4 million monthly active users and stands out for its comprehensive real-time reporting, global project interviews, and original research, solidifying its market leadership in the region.

Key Services and Features

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

Featured Articles: In-depth insight articles produced by Blockmedia's team, providing insights into partner projects, published on Blockmedia's official channels and CoinMarketCap.

Interviews (Video/Text): Video and text interviews produced by the team. Published on YouTube (58.7K subscribers) and shared on Telegram and Twitter.

External Distribution: Distributed through other Web3 media agencies to maximize coverage and visibility for retail traders and users.

KOL Bridging: Blockmedia curates top KOL collaborations to enhance content promotion and marketing campaigns, tailoring content and budgets for each KOL.

Platform Highlights

News and Market Reporting: Real-time updates on crypto and stock markets, in-depth coverage of technology, industry trends, and major announcements.

Regulatory Expertise: Detailed reporting on Korean regulations, including updates on stablecoins and local market policies.

Interviews/Profiles: CEO interviews, live 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.

Excellence in Video Content: The YouTube channel maintains 58.7K subscribers, with a total of 9.65 million views across 3,744 videos, including daily content such as Federal Reserve interest rate analysis and protocol deep dives.

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

Competitive Advantages

Outstanding Regulatory Reporting: Blockmedia provides exceptional in-depth reporting on Korean regulations, real-time event updates, and institutional intelligence. Its regulatory analysis goes beyond simple news content aggregation, offering insights that competitors cannot match.

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

Leadership in Video Content: With its "블미TV" channel, Blockmedia leads in video content, offering daily updates and technical deep dives on global projects and Federal Reserve interest rates, distinguishing itself among local competitors.

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

Blockmedia's balanced strategy combines high traffic performance, proprietary research, and multimedia interaction, making it a leading platform for institutional investors and retail cryptocurrency audiences in Korea. The platform's excellent regulatory coverage and original research make it the preferred source for mature investors and Web3 projects seeking broad exposure and in-depth insights. Blockmedia continues to lead in web-based reporting, serving a diverse audience through comprehensive news, interviews, videos, and research content.

Bloomingbit블루밍비트(@bloomingbit_io)

Overview: Bloomingbit (블루밍비트) is a well-known cryptocurrency and blockchain media platform in Korea. Established as part of Korea's largest financial media group, Hankyung Media Group (whose core publication is The Korea Economic Daily), Bloomingbit focuses on providing reliable real-time news and insights for crypto investors, emphasizing clarity and usability in content to help users make informed decisions without sifting through scattered information. The platform positions itself as a starting point for cryptocurrency investment, offering carefully curated reports by dedicated blockchain journalists for both Korean and international audiences, providing bilingual content. Its team consists of writers and editors targeting the global English-speaking market, transforming complex stories into easily understandable English for readers.

Key Features

Real-time news updates, expert-curated market trend analyses, and an easy-to-use interface allow users to gather cryptocurrency information at a glance.

Supports mobile access through its app, transforming complex stories into actionable insights and integrating social media sharing features to expand reach.

In-depth analyses, such as Bitcoin predictions for 2026, large transaction reports, and analyses of economic intersections.

Offers various types of cryptocurrency content: token launches by startups, coins listed on exchanges, product releases by developers, collaborations between PR firms and crypto clients, IDOs or ICOs by projects, DAO governance, etc.

Bloomingbit's Main Services

Organic News Releases: Editor-selected content (not driven by advertising) (e.g., token launches, technical updates, industry collaborations, public events, and reports).

Paid Content Placement: Promotional or timely content (e.g., exchange listings, token sales, product launches, AMA announcements, etc.).

Press Release Distribution: Enhances press release SEO and correctly tags for long-term search engine ranking (e.g., company updates, financial reports, investor news, security audits, protocol changes, etc.).

Bloomingbit's services cover comprehensive news reporting on blockchain, Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, DeFi, Web3, altcoins, regulatory developments, exchange activities (such as Upbit, Bithumb), and global trends, typically focusing on the Korean market.

Core Competitive Advantages

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 provides Bloomingbit with an advantage in attracting serious investors.

Curated Insights and User-Centric Content: Bloomingbit emphasizes actionable stories selected by journalists, contrasting with other media's rapid updates that may overwhelm users with information. Distribution channels include Upbit, Bithumb, Tradingview, hankyung.com, Naver News, etc.

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

Bloomingbit combines the support of traditional media, curated content, and bilingual accessibility, making it a reliable source of crypto information in Korea. While it may not have the highest traffic among major platforms, its partnership with Korea's largest economic journal, Hankyung, and support from local investment firm Hashed provide significant advantages in credibility and depth, gaining exposure among institutions. As a subsidiary of Hankyung, Bloomingbit is gradually gaining more momentum in the market.

TokenPost(@tokenpost)

Overview: TokenPost is Korea's pioneering blockchain and digital asset media platform. Established in 2017, it is the country's first specialized blockchain media agency, having developed into a comprehensive platform connecting the domestic and international blockchain industries, emphasizing trust, global coverage, and professionalism in 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 on cryptocurrencies, DeFi, AI, Web3, policies, and industry trends rather than mere hype.

Key Features

Large Scale and Coverage: Attracts over 5.2 million visits and 16.4 million page views monthly, demonstrating strong user loyalty through high and direct traffic.

Bilingual and Global Focus: Offers content in Korean and English, expanding to markets like Thailand to promote international user access and understanding of local cryptocurrency news and trends.

Innovative Tools and Integration: Provides real-time price tracking (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, HBAR, BNB, XRP), blockchain notarization articles to ensure transparency, KOL indices to measure the influence of opinion leaders, and audio analysis through the TokenPost podcast.

Data-Driven Analysis: Offers TPI (TokenPost Index) for market trend assessment and collaborates with data providers like Kaiko and Messari for in-depth research.

Main Services

News Dissemination: Provides objective, fact-based reporting on blockchain, crypto markets, DeFi, AI, Web3, regulatory updates, and security issues, including breaking news and exclusive interviews.

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

Portfolio Management Tools: 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: Hosts interactive forums, reward-based lounges, and offline events, such as roadshows, providing industry education and networking opportunities.

Core Competitive Advantages

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

Scale and Coverage: Boasts a large monthly visitor base and strong domestic traffic, with broader international access that surpasses competitors.

Innovation and Practicality: TokenPost's portfolio management tools, blockchain notarization, and KOL indices make it more than just a news platform, providing practical user value that competitors lack. TokenPost combines data analysis and simulation tools for deeper user interaction, aligning with its "smart media" positioning.

Content Depth and Expertise: Focusing on insights, exclusive interviews, and research (e.g., collaborations with Kaiko and Messari), TokenPost provides objective analysis, steering clear of hype. TokenPost's event hosting (e.g., Onchain Symposium) and policy focus enhance its thought leadership in the market.

Global and Partnership Focus: Expanding into the Thai market and establishing partnerships with companies like Crypto.com and Chiliz positions TokenPost as a leader among local media.

Overall, TokenPost, with its large scale, user-centric tools, and profound content, is a pioneer in driving sustainable ecosystem development in Korea's dynamic crypto market, leading in traffic and innovation while bridging connections with global audiences.

4. Introduction to Major Go-To-Market Agencies

In Korea's cryptocurrency market, the role of marketing agencies is self-evident, with many high-performing agencies—including those that prefer to remain anonymous—playing a key role. Here, we highlight three agencies based on existing data and information: INFCryptoLab, 071Labs, and DeSpread, particularly emphasizing their capabilities in cryptocurrency marketing. For more information about the agencies, feel free to contact us. (Order is not prioritized)

INFCryptoLab(@INF_CryptoLab)

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

Main Services: KOL Marketing and Management: Building brand stories and strategic planning to ensure ongoing brand presence. Identifying the best-performing KOLs to achieve maximum results with minimal expenditure. Tailored content and continuous exposure, not limited to one-time content releases. Tracking effectiveness 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 Blogging: Collaborating with leading blog KOLs to enhance visibility on search engines, focusing on platforms like NAVER.

Traditional and Crypto PR: Expertise in selecting suitable media partners to ensure broad exposure. Comprehensive coverage across more than 20 media outlets on 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 opportunities for projects to showcase on top Korean startup YouTube channels.

Community Management: Managing and building Korean Telegram communities, driving engagement through KOL support and localized activities.

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

Noteworthy Success Cases

SUI: Exclusive marketing partner in Korea, collaborating for over 2.5 years on multiple projects on the SUI platform.

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

Aethir: Led market entry strategies for tokens and products, generating revenue for Korean institutions.

HyundaiCard Conference: Successfully collaborated with HyundaiCard to host events.

KiteAI: Enhanced brand awareness in the Korean market through a KOL+INF focus model, ensuring listing opportunities in Korea.

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

071Labs(@071_labs)

Overview: 071Labs is a leading GTM incubator and venture capital firm in Korea, known 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. 071Labs works closely with project teams, KOLs, and media to help turn ideas into reality, positioning its partners at the forefront of the digital economy.

Main Services: KOL Ambassador Programs and Corporate Alliances, planning and managing KOL ambassador programs and alliances to enhance project visibility and credibility, PR and media promotion.

Publishing PR content and articles in both 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 to boost engagement and awareness in the Korean market.

YouTube Content Creation: Developing and producing YouTube content to promote projects and reach a wider audience.

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

Key Case Studies/Performance Records

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

Korean Node Distribution: Generated $2 million in node sales for projects like Aethir, Carv, Delysium, and Moonveil.

Web2 to On-Chain User Acquisition: Helped bring Web2 users on-chain—making Korea the second-largest market for Catizen, generating $1 million in game revenue within 8 months.

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

Providing PMF Support for Web2 Companies: Building and promoting Tada mini-apps to support Tada's service products and refine PMF (Product-Market Fit).

Marketing and Portfolio

071Labs collaborates with top blockchain projects in marketing, 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, OpenEden.

In terms of investment, they include: ParticleNetwork, Catizen, UXLink, Zerobase, Solv, Nubit, Aria, VanilaFinance, MultipleNetwork, Aimeme, OpenEden, Aster, Momentum, Moss, Tria, Billions.

As Korea's largest GTM incubator and venture capital firm, 071Labs provides a comprehensive ecosystem for blockchain projects, covering all aspects from financing and marketing to community building and viral growth. They have DokdoDAO (Korea's largest KOL DAO with over 50,000 members) and Blockstreet (a Korean crypto PR/media agency with 4,000 daily active users), providing a competitive advantage 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 dreamers to accelerate startup growth through strategic investments, technical expertise, and partnerships. 071Labs is committed to ensuring long-term innovation and market leadership, establishing a sustainable foundation for the future of the digital economy. As architects in the blockchain space, they are the ideal partners for projects seeking to revolutionize the industry.

DeSpread(@DeSpreadTeam)

Overview: Founded in 2019, DeSpread is currently one of the largest Web3 growth studios in terms of client scale and market influence, providing Go-To-Market (GTM) strategic consulting for blockchain projects in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. DeSpread has over 30 experts and is a pioneer in continuously innovating the Web3 GTM space in 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 Korea through data-driven strategies, helping overseas projects successfully enter the Korean market.

Main Services: Brand Consulting, customizing GTM strategies based on market insights and narratives. Providing consulting on Web3 product-market fit (PMF) and brand building. Building local partnerships and providing ecosystem support for market entry.

Growth Strategies and Media Dissemination: Data-driven product growth and marketing strategy consulting. Media relations management, crisis PR, and social media strategies. Comprehensive online/offline event operations and media distribution.

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

Validator Services: Validators and Infrastructure: Operating mainnet validators for multiple networks, including Hyperliquid, Berachain, Story, Monad, Stacks, and Avail, while also serving as LST validators on Berachain, Hyperliquid, and Monad, providing reliable technical support for the region.

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

Key Partners and Cases: As one of Korea's earliest and longest-standing GTM companies, DeSpread collaborated with projects like Solana, Stacks, The Sandbox, and Filecoin in their early stages. Over time, their partner list has expanded to include successful cases such as Aptos, Sui, Arbitrum, Berachain, Soneium, Story, Babylon, and Gensyn.

As a deep ecosystem participant, DeSpread is committed to promoting comprehensive GTM strategies through a dual-track framework: 1. Matching on-chain product providers with existing and potential on-chain user demands. 2. Connecting projects with investment decision-makers through education and relationships. These goals are based on their core services—brand consulting, growth strategies, research, and validator services—strategically incorporating DAT coverage as a special tool to facilitate institutional collaboration and enterprise practicality.

DeSpread has also expanded its ability to cover retail and bulk user adoption through the DATCON2025 conference, achieving overall GTM coverage for users and investors.

5. Introduction to Major Research Companies

Korean exchanges heavily rely on reports produced by research companies during project listing due diligence, highlighting the importance of neutral and credible research for market participants. Represented by FourPillars, TigerResearch, and Xangle, the research company ecosystem in Korea is integrating into a powerful force shaping its cryptocurrency market. (Order is not prioritized)

FourPillars(@FourPillarsFP)

Overview: FourPillars is one of the fastest-growing crypto research companies in Asia, headquartered in Seoul, focusing on providing professional, data-driven analysis for institutions and crypto natives. The company was founded with the intention of providing high-quality industry insights, aiming to shape the blockchain narrative in Asia through research, infrastructure, and influence. FourPillars has a professional research team that is expanding its influence beyond Korea, covering English-speaking countries and the broader 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 collaborates with blockchain projects to promote ecosystem growth, including business expansion and developer opportunities in Korea. They also launched a validator brand—FPValidated—to facilitate ecosystem development.

Research Reports and Articles: Providing comprehensive guides and outlook analysis reports, with neutral content aimed at builders, retail investors, and institutional investors.

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

Data-Driven Tools: Providing public dashboards for crypto projects to analyze and showcase key metrics.

Ecosystem Contribution: Promoting global projects entering the Korean market through event reviews and project collaboration initiatives.

Advantages and Conclusion: FourPillars focuses on institutional-grade, forward-looking research, providing in-depth technical analysis (e.g., ZK proofs, real-world assets (RWAs), ecosystem outlooks). Their research aims to assist crypto natives in strategic planning, while their narrative-driven approach combines technical depth with actionable insights to drive ecosystem development. This focus allows FourPillars to stand out in competition.

Selective Validators: Operating top validators only on selected chains.

Validated Product-Market Fit: Research has demonstrated clear market applicability.

Scalable Growth: Validators are used for strategic expansion rather than diluting core business focus.

Industry Leader Trust: Widely trusted by founders, funds, and communities.

First-Mover Advantage: A pioneer in shaping the institutional-level crypto narrative in Korea.

Expanding Regional Influence: Increasing their influence in the broader Asian region.

Tiger Research(@tiger_research)

Overview: Tiger Research is a Korean research and consulting company focused on the Web3 and blockchain space, with an emphasis on the Asian market. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Seoul, it has branches in key cities such as Tokyo, Hanoi, and Jakarta, expanding its business in regions like Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and China. Tiger Research provides comprehensive solutions for global Web3 projects to enter and expand in the Asian market, leveraging a deep understanding of local markets to help projects succeed in Asia.

Core Business and Highlights: Tiger Research positions itself as a "guide" for global Web3 projects in Asia, offering a comprehensive, execution-oriented market entry approach. The company combines bottom-up market research with results-oriented business strategies to minimize risks 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 Reports: Providing 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 Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

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

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

Advantages and Conclusion

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

TigerResearch offers end-to-end solutions, from market analysis to complete Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, helping clients minimize risks and accelerate growth. With multi-regional business coverage, a strong local network, and a trust-building philosophy, TigerResearch has become a practical and reliable partner for Web3 growth in Asia. By prioritizing actionable insights and long-term partnerships, TigerResearch can help clients navigate complex regional markets and achieve sustainable success.

Xangle(@Xangle_official)

Overview: Xangle is a 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 in the Korean crypto market, which is one of the largest crypto trading centers globally. 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, supporting its broader role in ecosystem transparency and infrastructure development. Its core activities include protocol layer analysis, research publication, 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 outlooks, which can be accessed by institutional users through platforms like Bloomberg Terminal.

Protocol Disclosure and Information Standards: Maintaining a standardized disclosure framework focused on accurately conveying blockchain project protocol mechanisms, governance structures, and token designs.

Blockchain Explorers and Ecosystem Infrastructure: Designing and operating official blockchain explorers and ecosystem hubs, providing integrated on-chain data access, governance information, and ecosystem overviews for L1 and L2 networks.

Validators and On-Chain Operations: Operating validator infrastructure for selected blockchain networks, supporting network security and governance participation.

Advantages and Conclusion: Xangle stands out through its quantitative on-chain data and institutional-grade integration, positioning itself as a leading platform for real-time analysis and compliance in the Asian crypto market. Unlike other qualitative or consulting-oriented companies, Xangle provides empirical data-driven research, with a particular focus on regulatory alignment and market transparency, making it especially suitable for 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 competitive crypto market.

6. Introduction to Major Blockchain Conferences in Korea and Strategic Value Assessment

The blockchain conference ecosystem in Korea is mature and diverse, with major events categorized into global summits, exchange-led developer conferences, technology-oriented builder meetups, and government-supported regional activities. Below is a detailed introduction to six major conferences, covering key information such as conference overview, organizers, target audience, and impact assessment. The strategic value of sponsoring these events for project token listings on major Korean exchanges (such as Upbit or Bithumb) and enhancing project brand awareness in Korea will also be emphasized.

Overview of Major Blockchain Conferences in Korea

Korea Blockchain Week (KBW): KBW is the largest and most internationally influential annual blockchain event in Korea, held every year since 2018. It is not only an industry conference but also a week-long Web3 festival, centered around the flagship conference "IMPACT."

Organizers: FACTBLOCK (founder and host), along with institutions like 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 is the primary bridge connecting global projects with the Korean market. It boasts the highest media exposure and the broadest international participation, making it the preferred platform for building networks in both global and Korean markets.

Upbit D Conference (UDC): UDC is a global blockchain conference hosted by Dunamu, the operator of Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit. The conference was originally named "Upbit Developer Conference" and has now expanded to cover various fields such as technology, policy, and industry trends.

Organizers: Dunamu (operator of Upbit).

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

Impact Assessment: UDC holds the highest direct strategic value for projects seeking to list on Upbit. It is a non-profit event aimed at promoting ecosystem development, and a project's appearance at UDC is seen as a strong signal of Upbit's recognition of its technical and ecological value.

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

Organizers: Supported by KryptoPlanet, Dunamu, and others.

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

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

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

Organizers: KryptoPlanet and others.

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

Impact Assessment: It enjoys a strong reputation within the Korean developer community and is an excellent venue for projects to showcase their technical strength and code quality. For technology-driven projects, gaining recognition at BUIDLAsia helps them stand out during technical evaluations by exchanges.

Blockchain Week in Busan (BWB): BWB is a regional event supported by the Busan city government, aimed at promoting Busan's vision of becoming a "blockchain city."

Organizers: Busan Digital Asset Nexus (BDAN), supported by the Busan city government and major media groups.

Target Audience: Institutional leaders, regulatory officials, local government representatives, and projects focused on RWA (real-world assets) and STO (security token offerings).

Impact Assessment: It has a strong regulatory and institutional background. For projects seeking to collaborate with traditional financial institutions in Korea or focusing on compliance tracks like RWA and STO, BWB provides a unique touchpoint.

▲ Comparison of Major Blockchain Conferences in Korea

Strategic Assessment of Sponsoring Events for Token Listings and Brand Building: In Korea, token listings and brand building are highly specialized and regulated processes. Sponsoring top blockchain conferences is not a direct "pass" for listing but 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 high demands for localization and "local legitimacy."

Building Trust: Sponsoring major conferences, especially UDC and KBW, which have strong influence in Korea, sends a signal to Korean investors and regulators that the project is financially sound and committed to the Korean market.

Media Exposure: Local media coverage of these conferences is very dense. By sponsoring and speaking at the conferences, projects can gain high-quality media exposure, directly reaching the Korean cryptocurrency community.

Technical Endorsement: Participation in ETHSeoul or BUIDLAsia can provide strong technical endorsement for projects. Korean exchanges (especially Upbit) place great importance on a project's technical foundation, and active participation in these hardcore technical conferences is a strong testament to technical strength.

Facilitating Token Listings on Exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb: Korea's top five exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, Gopax) form the Digital Asset Exchange Alliance (DAXA) and follow a unified set of self-regulatory listing and delisting guidelines. For example:

A. Strategic Focus for Upbit Listings: UDC and ETHSeoul

Upbit, operated by Dunamu, emphasizes "service proof" and "developer proof" in its listing evaluations.

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

ETHSeoul: For Ethereum ecosystem projects, deep involvement at ETHSeoul (such as sponsoring hackathons) can attract the attention of Upbit's technical team, as Upbit closely monitors technological advancements in the Ethereum ecosystem.

B. Strategic Focus for Bithumb Listings: KBW

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

KBW: The best stage to showcase a project's global influence and attract attention from local retail investors and market makers in Korea.

Xangle Adoption: Demonstrating the project's commercial sustainability through partnerships with major Korean enterprises, meeting Bithumb's strict quality requirements for projects.

Strategic Summary: Sponsoring top blockchain conferences in Korea is a key component of a project's strategy to enter the Korean market, and the sponsorship fees should be viewed as an investment in marketing and public relations. This investment helps the project stand out among numerous applicants in the competitive and highly regulated Korean market, gaining favor with exchanges. Korean blockchain conferences are strategic high grounds for projects entering this market. Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) offers the broadest networking opportunities, Upbit D Conference (UDC) holds the highest value for Upbit listings, ETHSeoul and BUIDLAsia provide indispensable technical endorsements, while BWB supports corporate collaboration and regulatory compliance. By strategically sponsoring and participating in these events, projects can significantly enhance their brand awareness in Korea and lay a solid foundation of local legitimacy, technical strength, and institutional trust to meet the increasingly stringent listing evaluation standards of exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb.

7. Final Thoughts

The increasing influence of the Korean crypto ecosystem has made it a key market that any stakeholder interested in the future of Web3 should pay attention to.

By 2025, Korea's crypto ecosystem has experienced rapid development, benefiting from technological advancements and cautious yet progressive regulatory policies. The country boasts one of the largest bases of retail investors globally, with millions of active users and trading volumes comparable to traditional stock markets. Korea's unique crypto culture, characterized by enthusiasm and pragmatic regulatory measures, is fostering a safer and more compliant market.

As a significant global crypto hub, Korea offers tremendous opportunities for international investors. However, to successfully establish a foothold in this market, overseas projects must closely collaborate 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 Korea. Local institutions 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 to help international projects connect with local stakeholders and bridge the gap between domestic and international participants. At the same time, local companies are eager to collaborate with international projects, making the Korean market highly receptive to foreign initiatives.

Despite ongoing challenges such as complex regulations, exchange dominance, and competition for market share, Korea continues to solidify its important position in the crypto space, demonstrating how smart regulation can parallel rapid adoption. Its growing influence highlights Korea as a key market for Web3 projects aiming to successfully enter the Asian and even global markets. Building relationships with local players is not just an advantage—it is a prerequisite for successfully entering the Korean crypto market.

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

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available market channels and information research. IOSG does not endorse any third-party service providers, individuals, or media mentioned in the text. This article is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice. Special thanks to Yuanjie @forgivenever, Jocy @jocyiosg for structural suggestions. Thanks to Heechang @xparadigms, Jeff Kim @jeefeekim, Bingo @Bingoz9, Tae Hee @taeheecrypto, 0xDaniel @0xDanielkr, Uno @chillguyuno, Harry @harrychjin for their editing suggestions.

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