Leo (Hangil) Lee

Senior Manager, Digital Asset Business Team, KakaoBank · Co-founder, Heybit

I co-founded and ran a crypto investment platform for eight years, including quant market-making on Binance, OKX and Bybit. Today I lead stablecoin and blockchain adoption at a bank. What I care about most is how financial institutions make the move to digital assets, from custody and settlement to the products their customers actually use.

Experience

2025 – now
KakaoBank
Senior Manager, Stablecoin & Infrastructure

Led the stablecoin task force from its first day and carried that work into the Digital Asset Business Team in 2026. Now leading the bank’s stablecoin and blockchain adoption.

2018 – 2025
Heybit
Co-founder, COO & CISO

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 Binance, OKX and Bybit
  • Discretionary investment management license (Korea)
  • KISA ISMS preliminary certification
  • VASP registration in the British Virgin Islands
2014 – 2018
IAMSCHOOL
Board Member · General Manager, Taiwan · Head of Korea Operations

Launched the Taiwan subsidiary, reaching #1 in Google Play Education within six months, then ran Korea operations. Acquired by NHN Group in 2018.

2011 – 2014
NEOWIZ
Software Engineer

Built the mobile client for the rhythm game Tapsonic.

2008 – 2011
ISEEYOU
VP, Product & Engineering

Early team member. Acquired by Kakao.

Speaking

Projects

Education

Contact