SKN | Gemini’s APAC Strategy: Why Trust, Localisation, and Regulation Will Define the Next Phase of Crypto Adoption

Key Takeaways for Sophisticated Capital

• Trust and compliance are becoming competitive advantages, not constraints, in digital assets.

• APAC is not a single market, but a mosaic requiring deep localisation to unlock adoption.

• Regulatory clarity accelerates ecosystems, as seen in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai.

• The “super app” trajectory is real, driven by cross-selling within trusted financial platforms.

As global crypto markets mature, the conversation is shifting away from pure speculation toward infrastructure, governance, and adoption at scale. In an interview with finews, Saad Ahmed, Head of Asia-Pacific at Gemini, outlined how the exchange is positioning itself for 2026—particularly across Asia-Pacific, one of the world’s most complex and diverse crypto regions.

Trust as Strategy, Not Marketing

Gemini’s core message is deliberately understated: longevity and compliance matter. Founded in 2014, the exchange has survived multiple crypto cycles, regulatory resets, and high-profile industry failures. According to Ahmed, Gemini’s ethos has always been to “ask for permission, not forgiveness”—a positioning that increasingly resonates with institutional capital and sophisticated users.

In contrast to platforms built for speed at the expense of governance, Gemini is leaning into its reputation as a regulated, battle-tested venue. Products like its US-based crypto rewards credit card exemplify how compliance and innovation can coexist—an approach Gemini intends to export selectively to other regions over time.

APAC: Fragmentation as a Catalyst for Innovation

Unlike the US or Europe, APAC cannot be addressed through a single regulatory or product lens. Each market operates under distinct rules, cultural behaviors, and dominant crypto use cases—ranging from gaming and payments to DeFi and trading.

This fragmentation presents execution challenges, but also opportunity. Gemini’s APAC strategy prioritizes deep localisation, building market-specific experiences rather than forcing a uniform global product. In Ahmed’s view, this necessity to listen closely to users is where meaningful innovation occurs.

For investors, this underscores a critical point: APAC adoption will not be driven by one regulatory breakthrough, but by many localised successes stitched together over time.

Regulatory Hubs: Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Dubai Contrast

Gemini is headquartered in Singapore, a jurisdiction known for regulatory pragmatism and iterative oversight. Hong Kong has similarly reasserted itself as a digital assets hub, fostering talent density and builder ecosystems.

Ahmed also points to Dubai as a compelling case study. The city’s dedicated digital assets regulator, Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, has created a clearer pathway for crypto firms by avoiding the automatic application of traditional finance rules to a new asset class.

The takeaway is not uniformity, but intentionality: markets that provide clarity—rather than perfection—attract builders, capital, and long-term platforms.

The Super App Trajectory Is Already Underway

The idea of a financial “super app” is not speculative. Gemini already allows US users to trade, stake, and earn crypto rewards within a single ecosystem. Ahmed, who previously worked on building a super app at Grab, sees clear parallels.

For sophisticated users, this model reduces friction and increases stickiness—provided trust is established first. The future of finance, in this view, is not fragmented apps, but integrated ecosystems where custody, payments, investing, and rewards converge.

What This Means for Long-Term Capital

Gemini’s APAC strategy reflects a broader industry shift: crypto platforms are being judged less on growth velocity and more on regulatory durability, localisation capability, and product depth. For investors and allocators, the winners in digital assets will be those that resemble financial institutions—not experiments.

Closing Insight

Crypto’s next phase will not be defined by hype cycles, but by execution under constraint. Gemini’s emphasis on trust, compliance, and localisation suggests a platform built for endurance. In a fragmented global landscape, endurance—not speed—is becoming the decisive advantage.

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