Lee Yeon-woo is a financial journalist at The Korea Times. Her wide range of reporting includes policies, macroeconomics, stock market, companies and even crypto. She is passionate about connecting the dots in Korean finance and making it easier for foreign nationals to understand. Based on her previous experience as a national reporter, she also has a keen interest in social issues within the sector, including gender equality and ESG. Your tips and insights are always appreciated. You can send them to yanu@koreatimes.co.kr.
Upbit D Conference 2025 to chart blockchain's expanding influence
A promotional image for the Upbit D Conference 2025 / Courtesy of Dunamu
By Lee Yeon-woo
Dunamu, the operator of Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, will explore blockchain's growing impact on everyday life at the upcoming Upbit D Conference (UDC), the company said Friday.
Titled "Blockchain, to the Mainstream," the annual event will be held Sept. 9 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. It will feature fireside chats, panel discussions, mentoring sessions, exhibition booths and networking opportunities, and is open to anyone interested in blockchain.
This year's keynote will be delivered by Patrick McHenry, former chair of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services. McHenry played a pivotal role in securing bipartisan support for the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, which addresses the classification and regulatory oversight of digital assets.
He will be joined by Dunamu's Chief Branding Impact Officer Yoon Sun-joo, who co-founded Coupang after graduating from Harvard Law School and the Kennedy School. Together, they will discuss emerging trends and global shifts in the digital asset and blockchain ecosystem.
Trends in the crypto economy will be examined by Gene Fang, associate managing director of Moody’s Ratings; Alice Liu, head of research at CoinMarketCap; and Paul Bances, head of global enterprise growth at Paxos.
Par Helgosson, head of PSG Labs at Paris Saint-Germain, and Steve Jung, chief operating officer of Azuki, will lead discussions on fandom and intellectual property in the Web3 space.
In addition, Sandra Ro, CEO of the Global Blockchain Business Council, along with U.S. and international policy leaders, will discuss critical policy developments unfolding across the globe, including the U.S.
Dunamu said additional global leaders at the forefront of blockchain innovation will also participate, with more speakers to be announced over time.
"As blockchain establishes itself as a transformative force reshaping industries beyond just technology, UDC 2025 will serve as a platform to spotlight and explore this pivotal moment," a Dunamu official said. "We hope more people can experience firsthand the future of the blockchain industry."
Now in its eighth year, UDC is Korea's leading conference on blockchain, covering not only technology but also policy, trends and the broader cultural landscape of the industry.
Dunamu has hosted the event annually to foster growth and collaboration within the blockchain ecosystem. To date, UDC has drawn approximately 27,000 participants and featured more than 200 sessions.
Dunamu also announced that a portion of this year's registration fees will be donated to scholarships aimed at nurturing young talent in the blockchain sector. The company has consistently supported university students pursuing careers in IT and blockchain.