In Conversation with KuCoin’s Alicia Kao: Why Trust Is the True Currency of Crypto’s Next Chapter

Core Insights - KuCoin aims to balance innovation with user protection, positioning itself as both a gateway for innovation and a gatekeeper for trust in a volatile market [1][2] - The exchange has rebranded with the slogan "Trust First. Trade Next." to enhance credibility and appeal to both retail and institutional users [3][4] User Segmentation - KuCoin serves millions of retail traders while also catering to the growing number of institutional investors, emphasizing the importance of both user segments [3][4] - Retail traders prefer user-friendly interfaces and AI tools, while institutional clients prioritize execution speed and customized metrics [4] Technological Advancements - The introduction of the Off-Exchange Settlement (OES) framework allows institutions to maintain third-party custody of assets while accessing KuCoin's liquidity [5] - KuCoin is expanding into real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, linking traditional finance with blockchain to create new opportunities for institutional investors [6] - The company is enhancing its technology, including artificial intelligence, to better serve both retail and institutional users [7]