APEX 2025 in Singapore wasn't just another crypto conference. It was a glimpse into Ripple's evolving strategy in Asia, a region ripe with opportunity and fraught with unique challenges. Rather than dwelling on the hype, let’s figure out some useful takeaways for early-stage founders who are building in this space. After all, talk is cheap, code walks.

Regulatory Clarity: The Founder's Compass

We know the crypto world can often seem like the Wild West. In Asia, things become exponentially more complex with a mosaic of different legal systems, each with their own idiosyncrasies. Even slickly steamrolled Singapore, with its new MAS licensing regime, is likely to slap hands and say no more. Here's where it gets interesting: regulatory clarity isn't just about compliance; it's a competitive advantage.

Think about it: a clear regulatory framework reduces risk. That includes drawing institutional investment, forming partnerships with legacy industries, and finally achieving scale and sustainability. Founders who take the initiative to work with regulators, before being forced to do so, are the ones playing the long game. Rather than waiting to be instructed on their next steps, be an active force helping to drive this discussion.

I still think about the first time I spoke with a TPG founder in Vietnam. He spent months working through local regulations before even launching his DeFi platform. It was indeed a pain, but it was worth it. He created important strategic alliances and developed the confidence of local investors. This provided him a huge lead on challengers who were still trying to catch up. That's the power of embracing regulatory clarity.

Tokenization: Unlock Untapped Potential Now

Eric van Miltenberg’s assertion that tokenization has far-reaching possibilities isn’t just empty theoretical jargon. It's a massive opportunity, especially in Asia. Consider the region's unique assets: supply chains, real estate, even cultural artifacts. Tokenization has the potential to supercharge liquidity, fractionalize ownership and access, and enable completely new business models.

Don't just tokenize for the sake of it. Identify a concrete challenge, a real friction point, and use tokenization to address it. Consider, for instance, the smallholder farmers of Southeast Asia who are trying to access credit. Might tokenizing their future harvests release new financing partners beyond those they generally reach? Absolutely.

  • Problem: Limited access to credit for smallholder farmers.
  • Solution: Tokenize future harvests as collateral.
  • Benefit: Increased access to financing, improved livelihoods.

I chatted with the founder building the infrastructure that will let Thai rice farmers tokenize their crops and sell directly to global investors. It’s no small feat, as there are myriad logistical and regulatory hurdles to clear. The opportunity to upset the agricultural finance establishment apple cart is vast. He’s not just building a business, he’s empowering a community. That's the power of tokenization done right.

Strategic Acquisitions: Don't Build Alone

Ripple’s strategic acquisitions are not simply ways to broaden their product line. They’re focused on acquiring the best talent, technology and access to markets. This is a crucial lesson for startups: don't be afraid to collaborate or be acquired. The blockchain space is still incredibly nascent, and re-inventing the wheel on everything under the sun is usually a recipe for disaster.

Think about it: is it better to spend years developing a KYC/AML solution in-house, or to acquire a company that already has a proven track record? The answer is obvious. Smart strategic acquisitions can help drive rapid growth, mitigate growth risk, and provide access to adjacent and new markets.

Here's the unexpected connection: think of acquisitions as partnerships. Don’t simply purchase a startup and absorb it back into your organization; listen to its founders, tap into its specialized knowledge and capabilities, and fuel its talent. The most successful acquisitions are those that add synergy and open up new doors of opportunity.

I’ve witnessed the death of too many promising startups who were just too proud to work together or to be acquired by someone. They held true to their concept, as the community slightly changed and the market forced them into a corner with their own finances. Don't make the same mistake. Stay on the lookout for unexpected opportunities, and don’t shy away from collaborating with unlikely partners.

APEX 2025 wasn't just a conference. It was a roadmap for Ripple's future in Asia. And for founders across the region, it provided instructive case studies on regulatory clarity, the value of tokenization and acquisitions for growth. The bottom line There is no magic formula, but the idea is to think proactively, address real-world problems, and be collaborative. Looking forward, blockchain’s future in Asia looks bright. It will flourish because of those who are willing to learn, take risks, and break new ground.