if KOSDAQ were to leverage a KRW stablecoin for cross-border listings, Could it aspire to become 'Asia's NASDAQ for SEA ventures?
If a KRW stablecoin and tokenized securities can fundamentally transform the startup investment market across Asian borders, what should we be taking? If the next wave of Southeast Asian unicorns were to IPO on South Korea's KOSDAQ, how would that fundamentally shift the economic landscape of Asia?
The Opportunity and The Crisis: A Tale of Two Asias
Over the past decade, Southeast Asia's technology landscape has undergone a seismic transformation. Fueled by over $82 billion in cumulative venture capital funding (2015-2024), the region has produced more than 50 unicorn companies, creating a vibrant ecosystem brimming with innovation. However, this explosive growth is now facing a critical bottleneck: the near-total collapse of the exit market. With exit values plummeting by over 70% in recent years, a liquidity crisis threatens to suffocate the very engine of this growth. Founders and investors are trapped, unable to recycle capital, which stalls new investments and jeopardizes the region's economic future.