Leo (Hangil) Lee
Senior Manager, Digital Asset Business, KakaoBank · Former co-founder, Heybit
Eight years as co-founder, COO and CISO of a Korean crypto investment platform, which I ran from founding to a 126-person company operating under an investment management license, ISMS certification and VASP registration. Since 2025 I have been at KakaoBank, where I set up the stablecoin task force on its first day and now drive the bank’s stablecoin and blockchain initiatives within its digital asset business, covering custody, settlement and customer-facing products.
Experience
Led the stablecoin task force from its first day and now drive the bank’s stablecoin and blockchain initiatives within its digital asset business.
Ran a Korean crypto investment platform from founding through the sale of its digital asset division. Raised about $38M, grew to 126 people and about $43M in revenue (FY2021).
- Quant market-making and liquidity provision on major global exchanges
- Discretionary investment management license (Korea)
- KISA ISMS certification (preliminary)
- VASP registration in the British Virgin Islands
Launched the Taiwan subsidiary, reaching #1 in Google Play Education within six months, then ran Korea operations. Acquired by NHN Group in 2018.
Built the mobile client for the rhythm game Tapsonic.
Joined as an early team member in my first year at KAIST. Acquired by Kakao.
Speaking
- XRP Seoul 2026 · Bringing Stablecoins into Everyday Finance
- RealFi × Asia Stablecoin Conference (4Pillars)
- Bridge Seoul 2026 (Wavebridge)
- Ethereum Korea One · Bridging Korean institutions and the Ethereum ecosystem
- Solana Stable Future (Solana Foundation · Superteam Korea, KBW 2025)
Education
- KAIST · B.S. Computer Science
- Hochschule Furtwangen, Germany · Exchange student
Languages
- Korean · Native
- English · Business
- Mandarin · Conversational