Kenny Chan is the Head and General Manager of StraitsX, a regulated payments platform for digital assets and the issuer of the following digital asset stablecoins - XSGD (Singapore dollar), XIDR (Indonesian Rupiah), and XUSD (US Dollar).

Before StraitsX, Kenny spent several years at Grab, playing a key role in the acquisition of Uber's Southeast Asia assets and contributed to Grab's historic Nasdaq listing.

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👋🏼  How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

Our work revolves around creating a bridge between traditional finance and the digital asset space via traditional payment channels and our digital currencies such as XSGD, XIDR, and XUSD.

In a space that is often volatile and difficult to navigate for newcomers, we focus on creating trusted, regulated, user-centric experiences that allow our users and our partner’s users to navigate the industry with confidence.

As the Head and General Manager of StraitsX, I oversee the overall P&L for the business and ensure that daily operations of our team are aligned with our short-term and long-term goals.

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🧐  What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

Even compared to other fast-growth, innovative industries, the digital asset space is an outlier when it comes to how all-consuming it can possibly be for those who work in the space.

The digital asset market trades nonstop; and there is a strong emphasis on in person networking in conferences across the world. While this can be exciting at times, I like to remind myself and my connections in the space that it’s important to take breaks and have priorities fulfilling and exciting personal life.

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🏆  What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

The biggest highlights of my career have been navigating unpredictable and challenging environments with a team, and emerging from those periods with a stronger, more aligned focus and deeper trust within the team.

These experiences have led to some of the most meaningful professional and personal connections in my life. Additionally, the opportunity to live, work, and travel across Asia for several years has been incredibly enriching, offering unique perspectives that not many from my cohort have experienced.

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🔍  What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?

This year, I'm closely watching the Fintech space, particularly the growing trend of tokenization.

It's fascinating to see how tokenization is enabling real-world use cases for stablecoins, driving innovation in digital payments and asset management.

A prime example is Purpose Bound Money, which showcases the potential of programmable stablecoins in creating more efficient and tailored financial solutions which would have applications in both the real world as well as the digital asset space.

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💼  What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

One of the most exciting aspects of the digital asset space is its accessibility.

Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, everyone has the same access to the tools and applications driving the industry.

This creates a unique environment where your knowledge, hands-on experience, and understanding of specific products are often valued more than the number of years you've spent in the industry, a rarity in most other fields.

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🗣  What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

I could talk for hours about how life is best enjoyed as a journey rather than a race to the finish line.

My own journey has led me to unique experiences, like living abroad, traveling, immersing myself in different cultures, and meeting people from all walks of life. These experiences have broadened my perspective in ways I could never have imagined if I had stayed on a more conventional path.

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🎥  What's your favorite movie/TV show?

I’m drawn to movies and TV shows with compelling plots that make you think. I recently rewatched Inception and was reminded of how it delves into the ways humans cope with loss, both healthily and unhealthily.

I’ve also been watching The Three-Body Problem on Netflix, and I appreciate how the series brings the story to life visually, while exploring the long-term implications of our actions and the complexity of seemingly simple situations.

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🍨  What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Favorite place? il laboratorio del gelato in the Lower East Side in NYC.

It offers a good mix of classic and novel flavors like rice flavored gelato! It also reminds me of my childhood.

And for my favorite flavor? I love trying the most unique flavor on the menu, but my favorite classics are either pistachio or hazelnut.