Kim Hyoung-nyon
Kim Hyoung-nyon is a South Korean entrepreneur and cryptocurrency industry pioneer, best known as the co-founder and executive vice president of Dunamu, which operates Upbit, South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Kim, along with Song Chi-hyung, also co-founded Dunamu and has played a crucial role in driving its rapid growth and success
Before founding Dunamu, Kim worked at Danal, a mobile payment company, where he gained valuable experience in the fintech industry. He then focused on the emerging cryptocurrency market, co-founding Dunamu with Song Chi-hyung in 2012. Since then, the company has become a dominant force in South Korea's cryptocurrency industry and has attracted substantial investment from notable firms, including Kakao Ventures and Altos Ventures.
In September 2021, Dunamu raised an impressive $85 million at a valuation of $8.7 billion, with investors continuing to show confidence in the company's prospects. Dunamu's valuation skyrocketed to $17 billion when Hybe, the management company of K-pop sensation BTS, acquired a 2.5% stake for approximately $400 million in November of the same year.
Kim's work with Dunamu has made him one of South Korea's first crypto industry billionaires. With a net worth of $1.95 billion, he has helped establish Dunamu as a leading player in the cryptocurrency market. Kim continues to lead the company's efforts to develop innovative products and services, such as the upcoming NFT digital photocards of BTS.
Under Kim's leadership, Dunamu has successfully navigated regulatory changes in South Korea, ensuring its crypto exchange Upbit has met all necessary regulatory requirements. Upbit processed nearly $6.1 billion in spot trades in digital assets over 24 hours as of March 29, making it the second-highest after global leader Binance, according to tracker CoinGecko.
