DeFi, exchanges, and the builders behind Web3.
We operate at the intersection of protocol design, exchange infrastructure, and early-stage Web3 ventures — where Asia Pacific's real market is being built.
Three verticals. One operating environment.
The Web3 industry is not one market — it's three distinct ecosystems that overlap at critical points. DeFi protocols need liquidity infrastructure. Centralised exchanges need compliant, credible projects. Early-stage Web3 builders need the network access and strategic foundations that neither the protocol layer nor exchange layer provides by default.
Saprolings works across all three — not because we offer a broad menu of services, but because real outcomes in Web3 almost always require touching more than one layer. A token launch involves tokenomics, exchange positioning, and on-chain liquidity at the same time. We are built to operate across that complexity without the handoffs that slow most advisory arrangements down.
Our depth in Asia Pacific — particularly Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia — means we bring local market intelligence, direct exchange relationships, and community network access that regional founders and global projects alike cannot easily replicate on their own.
DeFi & Protocols
Decentralised finance operates at $161B TVL globally with average monthly DEX volume exceeding $412B. The protocols that sustain healthy liquidity, survive bear cycles, and attract institutional participation are those with engineered tokenomics — not improvised ones. We work with DeFi teams on liquidity strategy, governance design, DEX position management, and the on-chain automation infrastructure that keeps operations running without manual bottlenecks.
Centralised Exchanges
Korea alone accounts for over $414B in quarterly crypto trading volume across Upbit and Bithumb — two exchanges that together define liquidity conditions for the entire Asia Pacific region. Japan's FSA reclassification of crypto assets by 2026 and Hong Kong's live spot ETF market have added further institutional dimension to APAC exchange infrastructure. We work with projects seeking listing access, compliance readiness, and market making support across the region's most important CEX venues.
Web3 Startups
Early-stage Web3 ventures face a specific problem: the gap between building a credible product and achieving exchange visibility is filled with decisions most founding teams aren't equipped to make alone. Token structure, APAC go-to-market, KOL strategy, listing sequencing, and post-launch liquidity management are all disciplines that require specialised experience. We bring that experience through incubation and advisory arrangements tailored to where each project actually is — not where a generic programme assumes it should be.
Korea
The world's most concentrated retail crypto market. Upbit holds ~65% market share, Bithumb ~31%. The Virtual Asset User Protection Act (2024) has significantly raised listing standards — making early exchange relationship-building essential for any project with Korean ambitions. A Upbit listing remains one of the most valuable signals of legitimacy in APAC.
Japan
The FSA is reclassifying crypto assets as formal financial instruments by 2026 — a regulatory shift that will bring institutional capital into a market already served by established retail exchanges including bitFlyer, Coincheck, and GMO Coin. Projects that establish credibility before this shift completes will have a significant first-mover advantage with institutional allocators.
Southeast Asia & Hong Kong
Hong Kong has emerged as Asia's leading digital asset ETF market with live BTC and ETH spot products. Southeast Asia — led by Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore — represents the highest-growth segment of the APAC Web3 market, with mobile-first retail participation and rapidly developing regulatory frameworks across all three jurisdictions.