Aka Leung, country manager of Bitget in the UAE: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is Aka Leung (LinkedIn), the UAE country manager at Bitget. Edited excerpts from our conversation:

My name is Aka Leung. I am the UAE Country Manager for Bitget. I am based in Hong Kong and my current role focuses on helping boost Bitget’s market share in the MENA region. Four years ago, I was working in a traditional local marketing agency, but I saw a chance in cryptocurrency and [felt] that it would be an important industry in the near future.

I began my crypto career four years ago at Huobi Global, now known as HTX, where I worked on regional growth in Latin America and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regions. My role then involved increasing the company’s market share by boosting sign-ups, first-time trades, daily active users, and trading volumes.

I noticed NFTs gaining traction in 2022, with NFT platforms like Azuki and Bored Ape launching during that time. At that time I had spent around one year growing [HTX’s] market share. So, I quit my job at Huobi Global and joined a local Hong Kong company focusing on the NFT marketplace, launching various NFT collections and our own launchpad.

I joined Bitget after the NFT heat cooled off, which happened quite fast. I have been at Bitget for around two years. I started as an operations manager, mainly focusing on the CIS and English-speaking regions, especially the UK, Canada, and Australia. I moved to the MENA region about one year ago and am now the UAE country manager, still working to grow our market share in the MENA region. We have achieved significant success, with our daily active users increasing almost tenfold.

I lead a regional team of around six people who help with operations, business development, marketing, social media, and VIP client management. Every morning, I review daily data to evaluate our performance, analyze trading volumes, and sign-up volumes through different channels. I also review transactions from key opinion leaders and approve business development agreements. I plan and manage various platform campaigns and marketing activities, such as launching token campaigns based on recent trends.

Bitget aims to bridge the gap between traditional and crypto finance. Currently, only about 10% of the global population is familiar with cryptocurrency. Many people might have heard of it but are skeptical or unsure about investing. But with the increasing government awareness and supportive policies, like the UAE’s AED stablecoin, there’s a good opportunity to expand the market and educate non-crypto users who are already interested.

As the country manager for the UAE, my responsibility is to help educate local users, many of whom may not be familiar with cryptocurrency.

AI is a major trend in the crypto sector right now. There is a growing focus on AI, with some tokens dedicated to AI development particularly popular right now. AI is an exciting topic, but we’re still in the early stages.

Crypto investors are currently cautious because of market fluctuations, which are influenced by factors such as US government policies, internal factors in the UK, and changes in the value of currencies like the JPY.

However, I believe more people will soon be joining the crypto space. In recent years, there have been crises with some centralized finance (CeFi) platforms and banks, which has led more people to explore decentralized finance (DeFi), especially as Web3 emphasizes DeFi. Unlike traditional systems which require human involvement, DeFi relies on blockchain technology, which enhances investor trust, but we still need time to build up the market and gain more confidence from traditional investors.

For the time being, I believe investors might need some time to settle, especially with the recent significant drops in both traditional finance and crypto markets. The recent global stock market crash has affected crypto exchanges, and now many investors are in a wait-and-see mode as the high fear index has indicated recently. Factors like the US elections have influenced both traditional and crypto markets and I think investors are still observing and waiting for the right [time] to invest.

In the long run, though, I believe more investors will start investing in crypto. Despite the current disruptions in traditional markets, the crypto industry is growing. If you look at trading volumes and active users compared to a few years ago, there’s a clear upward trend. Many people, including some of my friends, are still unfamiliar with crypto, which shows there’s potential for further growth and awareness.

Bitget is exploring getting licensed in MENA markets, but specifics about licensing are not available yet. The UAE is a particularly promising market. There are many high-wealth residents and the government’s regulations are crypto-friendly. Many crypto exchanges are moving their offices to the UAE, which is another reason why we’re bullish on the UAE crypto market. Other countries in the Middle East, like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have large populations and significant potential.

We’re currently working on localizing our products for different markets. There are many countries to consider, not just the UAE, and each requires a different strategy to effectively target and attract more local users. The UAE’s strong appetite for cryptocurrencies is supported by the government’s favorable regulations, such as the introduction of the AED stablecoin, enabling local users to purchase services and products locally using the stablecoin. I view this regulatory support as just the first step and see it [driving] more companies and investors to the local crypto market in the UAE.

My morning starts with a cup of coffee. I normally wake up at 9am and work until around midnight Hong Kong time because of the different time zones between me and my teammates. I work over 10 hours a day, coordinating with my team, managing various aspects of our operations, including responding to media inquiries and coordinating campaigns and online and offline marketing events.

For my next career goal, I’d like to lead more markets for Bitget other than MENA. This could include English-speaking regions or exploring potential markets in the Asia-Pacific area.

I love going for a drive with no destination in mind when I need to relax after a busy day and on weekends. It helps me clear my head and shake off any stress. On weekends, I like to treat myself by shopping for things like nice watches or Japanese Gundam figures. Other than work, the constants I rely on are coffee and driving to stay focused and motivated.

The best advice I’ve received was from my family: never give up on what you’re doing and believe in yourself. Confidence from within in your own abilities helps you overcome any challenges you face in both your personal and professional life.

Tags: