This event was held at Siam Paragon, on the 4th floor in the SCBx Next Tech zone, targeting both experienced and novice individuals in the crypto world. Attendance more tan 150+ person. It aimed to present foundational stories about blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, alongside methods for starting investments. Attendees were able to listen to insights and perspectives on the digital asset industry and investments from executives of leading companies, while also gaining insight from younger generations on why cryptocurrencies are appealing, along with experiences from individuals who have found success in their careers yet decided to enter the crypto world.
Dr. Korn Poonsirivong, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and Director of Binance TH Academy, spoke about blockchain technology, explaining what cryptocurrencies are, the reasons behind Bitcoin’s high price, and how to trade safely.
Dr. Korn emphasized that blockchain technology is inherently secure and cannot be hacked. However, hacks often occur due to users clicking on suspicious links or trading on unverified platforms, often resulting from human error. To prevent such issues, he suggested avoiding unreliable links and trading only on platforms approved by the SEC. Most importantly, he stressed the need for investors to conduct their own research (DYOR).
He also explained that the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is similar to the value of artwork or collectibles, as it is deemed valuable because people assign worth to it. In 2016, only 5 million people traded cryptocurrencies, but by 2024, this number had risen to 1.4 billion. As more individuals trade, the perceived value of these assets increases.
Furthermore, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum now have ETF funds, indicating that some governments have approved trading through funds. This has attracted significant investment from companies and institutions, showcasing a growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin’s price can fluctuate up to 70% annually, with potential profits reaching up to 90%. However, Dr. Korn highlighted the importance of long-term investment strategies, noting that cryptocurrencies are unsuitable for short-term trading due to their high volatility and the emotional factors involved in trading.
The next session delved deeper into the cryptocurrency industry from the perspectives of Thai crypto company executives: Mr. Trakarn Co-Founder of Traction and Peace Venture, Mr. Tanakorn Sanikawatee General Partner of Cleverse Venture, Mr. Tanawat Chiewhawan Founder & CEO of TokenUnlocks, and Mr. Sanjay Popli Co-Founder and CEO of Cryptomind Group Holdings and Cryptomind Advisory.
Mr. Sanjay spoke about the future of the crypto industry, noting that the current situation is quite promising. The overall economy is improving in both the U.S. and China, and investors are increasingly interested in Bitcoin, as seen by its price reaching $65,000. However, there are still geopolitical risks and potential wars on the horizon. One crucial factor this year is the U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins, crypto could see significant growth, while a Kamala victory might lead to a slight market correction. Overall, though, he believes crypto will continue to progress.
Mr. Sanjay also cautioned that the crypto world has many sectors, and many people make the mistake of trying to follow all of them, which is challenging. It’s important to choose the right people or communities to follow and to be cautious, as news could come from those paid to promote specific coins. Finding communities on social media for information exchange is a good option.
Mr. Tanawat explained that the reason he created TokenUnlocks was to help investors access in-depth information about various coins to make decision-making easier. TokenUnlocks combines data from whitepapers, on-chain information, and various tools to facilitate research.
From the perspective of data providers, there’s a clear demand for more information about digital assets. Large companies that previously only invested in stocks are now seeking information to determine if they should enter the crypto market, indicating an overall increase in investors looking to engage in crypto.
For Mr. Tanawat, he doesn’t follow any particular narrative but uses tokenomics as one of the criteria when choosing coins to assess whether they are undervalued or overvalued.
Mr. Tanakorn mentioned that in addition to institutional investors entering the market, another interesting aspect is mass adoption. For example, in Singapore, people can pay for taxis with crypto, showing that blockchain or crypto makes transactions more convenient and secure by reducing reliance on intermediaries. He believes that in the future, blockchain will be integrated into many aspects of daily life beyond finance.
Currently, Mr. Tanakorn is interested in BTCFi, which aims to generate yield from Bitcoin. This is a new concept for Bitcoin, which previously could only provide capital gains. BTCFi allows for productivity generation on the Bitcoin chain.
Mr. Trakarn views the overall market as having long-term potential over the next 5-10 years, although there are numerous influencing factors. Even during bullish periods where prices exceed fundamental values, a lack of fundamental basis will prevent sustained bullishness. Fundamentals in each cycle will attract skilled individuals to the crypto space, leading to capital inflow and the creation of new projects. Additionally, crypto is no longer a novelty for today’s youth, and as more institutions accept crypto, the uncertainties in geopolitics and the economy push people to diversify their investments into alternative assets, including gold and crypto.
When it comes to choosing coins to invest in, Mr. Trakarn emphasizes understanding the factors influencing a coin’s price. For him, the most important element is the idea behind it, whether in technology, tokenomics, or its ability to attract previously uninterested individuals. Staying informed by reading and consuming a lot of news is also beneficial.
After hearing from executives, the discussion shifted to younger voices interested in blockchain technology, featuring Mr. Panai Charoensuk from the Chulalongkorn University Blockchain Society (CUBS), Mr. Nawat Sripramoch from the BBA Investment Society (BIS), and Mr. Thanawat Sakulrungrojwute from the KU Blockchain Society.
Thanawat mentioned that his interest started with a short Bitcoin tutorial by 9arm, before he became a serious investor during the GameFi era.
Nawat’s journey also began with 9arm’s Bitcoin video, leading him to dive into crypto in 2020, trading and studying the technology’s solutions to various problems.
Panai was already a trader before discovering cryptocurrency, eventually delving deeper into blockchain technology.
However, not all young people are drawn to crypto or blockchain. Thanawat observed that many are more familiar with cryptocurrency than with blockchain technology, often focusing on returns rather than the underlying technology.
Panai noted that while there’s no strict requirement for youth to be into blockchain or crypto, younger generations are compelled to engage with rapidly evolving technologies to stay relevant.
Nawat suggested that not everything needs blockchain; sometimes, it can even hinder processes due to delays. For instance, losing a private key tied to a real asset like land raises concerns about accessibility.
Panai added that blockchain still faces challenges, with limited use cases currently. Some issues needing resolution haven’t arisen yet, indicating that while blockchain has future potential, it may not be adequately developed today.
Nawat concluded that it’s vital to critically assess whether a project genuinely requires blockchain technology or is merely utilizing it as a buzzword.
When listening to the new generation who are still students, it’s also important to hear from those who are already working. We had Mr. Nitchan Piromsawat – Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Soberin, Dr. Thampon Sukhasem – Founder of HybridDAO, and Dr. Navaporn Nalita – Founder & CEO of CCC Academy and Eidy, join the conversation as successful individuals who have shifted to the crypto space.
Mr. Nitchan worked at PTT for 10 years in Renewable Energy and Climate Tech but felt saturated and sought something more enjoyable, which led him to choose crypto, seeing it as one of the largest industries in the next 20 years. He believes that Thais in the crypto industry are talented, top-notch, and ambitious, capable of competing globally, even though he still sees crypto as quite risky.
Mr. Nitchan views that many newcomers to the workforce, including himself, see crypto as a better opportunity to make money than stocks or real estate, though this isn’t always the case. What he emphasizes is that regardless of the investment, earning a consistent income is more important.
He advises that to be an effective and happy investor, one should possess three things: knowledge, money, and heart—courage and discipline in investing—and not forget to carefully consider one’s risk tolerance.
Dr. Thampon is currently still a doctor at Chulalongkorn Hospital and had previously invested in stocks before entering the crypto market. He began to study and gather information and created a community to provide in-depth knowledge, such as analyzing various Onchain Data.
Dr. Thampon states that two things that full-time crypto workers have more of than employees are time and experience, which are crucial in the crypto world. Many newcomers often enter with the wrong mindset, thinking that crypto will help them get rich faster than the stock market. In reality, those investing in crypto should believe that it truly has a future and can grow. They should expect mass adoption in the future to envision this asset’s future in the next 5-10 years. Crypto should be seen as a way to diversify investment risks to cope with current inflation, and one should not expect to get rich quickly or achieve 10x returns.
For those wanting to invest in crypto, if you are a beginner with no time to follow the market or watch charts, you should start with DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging) in Bitcoin or Ethereum. The mindset that you must profit within this year or cycle is incorrect. He reiterated that this is not investment advice; in crypto, no matter how much you invest, there is always a chance that it can drop to zero.
Dr. Navaporn was originally a neurosurgeon and medical lecturer but discovered her passion in crypto, prompting her to leave her medical career to fully engage in the crypto field.
Dr. Navaporn believes that investing is not about competing with the market or others but is about competing with oneself, as everyone has different limitations. Therefore, we cannot simply imitate others; we must adjust to find what suits us best. Moreover, the crypto market is unlike the stock market—it never sleeps, and one competes with people worldwide of all ages. The key is to manage your own finances effectively first.
In general investing, one can be categorized as a trader or a value investor (VI). In crypto, we need to examine what the project’s value is and whether it has demonstrated productivity or if it’s just releasing tokens for initial investment.
Dr. Thampon adds that crypto has now developed into income-generating products that can be assessed with P/E ratios, allowing the application of stock VI principles to crypto, although it may not cover everything.
In the final session, Mr. Chanon Jaratsuttikul – CEO & Co-Founder of FWX, taught about Yield Farming, which is one of the ways to earn money in the crypto world.
Yield Farming can be divided into several categories, such as farming on AMM DEX platforms that have two Token Pools. We provide liquidity to both sides, and the DEX earns revenue from trading fees, which is then distributed to those who contributed liquidity in the form of LP Tokens. These LP Tokens can be used to farm for Governance Tokens from the platform where we continue farming. However, this model is currently not very favorable because once people receive Governance Tokens, they tend to sell them on the market, causing prices to drop.
Next is the lending protocol, which is similar to a bank. It takes money deposited by users and lends it out, using the interest earned from loans to pay yields to depositors. This model is becoming popular.
Following that is staking, which involves staking to receive incentives from the platform where we stake our assets. Finally, there is restaking, which involves taking staked coins and staking them again to earn additional yields.