Crypto APAC GTM Playbook: Navigating the Asian Landscape APAC (Asia Pacific) is a diverse and complex region, with each country characterised by its own language (sometimes overlapping), culture, and social norms. Navigating the landscape requires local knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and tailored localisation strategies. From China's stringent bans to the more established regulatory frameworks in Japan and Singapore, success in the APAC region hinges on embracing local culture and communication platforms like WeChat and Line. Strategic partnerships with key regional KOLs and grassroots communities are essential to authentically amplify the project’s vision and foster better engagement through local media and events. This guide breaks down APAC into key regions, starting with a write-up of each market and strategies including media outlets, KOLs, VCs, and key events. The flow for project founders: identify local media to amplify upcoming catalysts, work with KOLs or local agencies to craft important narratives and simultaneously build mindshare, raise from local funds for strategic value-add, partner with CEXes (web3 wallets) and host grassroots events to connect with users. - - - - - - - - 1. 🇨🇳 China • Focus: Speculation, Metrics • Messaging Apps: WeChat, Telegram, Weibo • Top Platforms: Binance, GMGN • Key Strategies: > Work with strong KOLs to amplify catalysts and news > Use Binance Square + Chinese media for distribution > Promote via WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, and Discord (via VPN) > Tap into speculative culture with memes, DeFi, and PVP narratives Despite regulatory challenges and clampdowns, China remains influential in the crypto space through offshore activities. This is because China is where the money is at —> most of the whales and retailers here are very degen and crypto native. Highly sought after market for both trading volume, TVL and user metrics. To maximise exposure, partner with a Chinese media to maximise exposure and work with good KOLs to amplify upcoming catalysts. Most if not all of the media outlets require payment in USD. Partnering with the likes of OKX and Binance wallet is good for retail exposure and cross-marketing. Also can opt to make use of Binance Square(social networking content platform) together with KOLs to amplify project updates and news. In China, people use a combination of Twitter, WeChat, Weibo, Telegram and Discord for communication and private crypto (trading) groups to share alpha and the latest projects. Keep in mind that most sites are still banned by the Chinese government, so users will need to use VPN. Users rely heavily on Chinese KOL and content creators for information, and read news portals to stay up to date with the latest news. Consumer dApps may want to explore marketing on other Chinese social media (apart from WeChat) such as Douyin (Chinese TikTok) and Xiaohongshu (lifestyle focused app). Chinese users are very PVP and highly speculative (fomo) because of the finance-driven culture, making money is the ultimate goal. Strong preference for memes and DeFi ponzi to ensure wealth effect. They are usually quite fast to things (BRC-20, ordinals, memes, bitcoin + eth). Most of the biggest CEXes in the industry are from China, they care a lot about metrics (revenue, on-chain volume, user growth) + bringing in new users (user adoption) before considering a listing. All require some sort of payment (tokens or stables) to list. With CEXs wallets becoming more popular, a popular strategy is also to partner with Web3 wallets (Binance, OKX, Bitget wallet) to increase mindshare and leverage it as targeted user acquisition. 拉盘 a) Media / marketing • Chinese and English: @WuBlockchain, @bwenews, @TechFlowPost, @ChainCatcher_, @Foresight_News, @PANewsCN • Chinese: @OdailyChina, @BlockBeatsAsia,, @ChainNewscom, @BiteyeCN b) Accelerators None c) KOL agencies • @iamyourchaos • @snow949494 • @EnHeng456 • @Cipher_Dance • @ShardingCapital d) Venture Funds • Legacy: @fenbushim, @ofrfund, @YoubiCapital, @QimingVC • Active: @waterdripfund, @genventurecap, @skyvisioncap, @Sky9Capital, @MetaWebVC, @CsquaredVC, @Mint_Ventures, @SevenXVentures, @JSquare_co / @DFG__Official, @iobc_capital e) KOLs • General: @phyrexni, @hebi555, @BTCdayu, @broleon, @wolfyxbt, @yuyue_chris • Trading: @brc20niubi, @0xSunNFT, @0xcryptowizard f) CEXes • T1: @binance • T2: @okx, @Bybit_Official • T3: @bitgetglobal, @Gate_io, @kucoincom, @HTX_Global, @MEXC_Official, @BingXOfficial g) Conferences None due to regulatory issues. Most of the biggest conferences will take place in Hong Kong anyway (China’s sandbox). Work with local local KOLs/agency to arrange smaller events/meetups

10. 🇲🇾 Malaysia • Focus: Product Founders • Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Facebook • Top Platforms: Coingecko, Etherscan • Key Strategies: > Use easy-to-digest content (TikTok, reels) > Highlight crypto-to-cash solutions for retail > Consider Shariah-compliance for Muslim investors Home to 2 of crypto’s essential applications, @coingecko and @etherscan and where many industry leaders/big project founders are originally from (@arthur0x, @Darrenlautf, @Daryllautk, @tn_pendle, @cindyleowtt, @everythingempty, @ethermage, @juliankoh, @weremeow, @sandraleow and @victor_yaw_). Low salaries + combination of historical circumstances, cultural values and economic policies forces many to be business owners/ entrepreneurs in Malaysia and this could be the reason why we see many Malaysian founders of successful projects. Malaysia is a multicultural population (Malay, Chinese and Indian) with an ever-growing tech adoption, and emerging fintech ecosystem with government support. Regulations on crypto are not as ironed out as its neighbour Singapore but the government has been exploring policy for crypto, blockchain tech in recent times. Retail investors turn to crypto to make extra income/trade to financial independence and rely on social media for news. Use short, engaging content (e.g., TikTok explainers) and easy to understand campaigns in both Malay and English. (Mobile) gaming is also very popular in Malaysia evidenced by the popularity of P2E games like @AxieInfinity back in 2021. “Crypto-to-cash” solutions via e-wallets or gift cards are also popular as well (also represents a form of off-ramping). Optimise for mobile (e.g., lightweight apps, simple messaging) and integrate with WhatsApp/ Facebook for announcements. Since Malaysia is an Islamic country, Islamic investors need Sharia-compliant investments and solutions. a) Media / marketing • @mementoresearch • @pukecast • @coingecko b) Accelerators • @SuperteamMY • @tankdao_xyz • @LydianLabsLLC c) KOL agencies • @mementoresearch • @TailoredWeb3 d) Venture Funds • @Not3Lau_Capital • @virtuals_vc • @HalogenCapital • @aloravc e) KOLs • @ahboyash • @bobbyong • @Not3Lau_Capital (DDZ) • @yellowpantherx • @CJCJCJCJ_ • @cryptoian • @0xKingsKuan • @sandraleow • @JiraiyaReal • @ikigaiwif606 • @mrstingy2014 f) CEXes • @hataglobal • @LunoGlobal g) Conferences • @ETHKL1 • @MalaysiaBCW