KuCoin Australia MD James Pinch at DECON 2026: Exchanges Are Becoming the Infrastructure Behind Everyday Commerce

SYDNEY, June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — James Pinch, Managing Director of KuCoin in Australia, was invited to speak at Digital Economy Conference (DECON) 2026 in Sydney, joining Ashima Chaudhary, Vice President at Mastercard Australia, for a fireside chat titled “From Programmable Money to Everyday Commerce: Unlocking the Next Payment Era.” Moderated by Yasmine Amani, Head of Account Management at Banking Circle, the session explored how fiat, cards, stablecoins and digital assets are converging through multi-rail infrastructure to support the next phase of global commerce.

Representing KuCoin, Pinch shared how exchanges are evolving beyond trading platforms into infrastructure providers connecting liquidity, payments, and stablecoins to real-world utility. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience in financial services and digital assets, he noted that KuCoin’s approach in Australia reflects a broader global strategy: building responsibly within evolving regulatory frameworks while connecting KuCoin’s global product suite with the licensing, compliance and operating standards required in each market.

Pinch noted that the launch of KuCard in Australia reflects the ongoing evolution of digital asset adoption. For eligible users, KuCard enables supported crypto assets to be used more seamlessly for everyday spending through Mastercard’s global network, delivering a familiar payment experience while helping integrate digital assets into established consumer payment habits.

“Crypto does not succeed by remaining just an investment; it succeeds by morphing to also encompass other real world use cases like payment methods. Our role is to build an ecosystem where people talk about the technology less and simply use it for everyday life – like paying for coffee or bills – just as they do with a traditional bank card today,” said Pinch.

The discussion also addressed trust, compliance, security and consumer protection as core requirements for mainstream adoption. Pinch emphasized that as digital assets become more embedded within the broader financial system, strong governance, regulatory engagement and resilient infrastructure will remain essential to building long-term trust. He also highlighted KuCoin’s significant investment in highly skilled cybersecurity and infrastructure expertise, noting that protecting users and maintaining resilient systems must remain a top priority for major platforms, as it does for KuCoin.

Looking ahead, Pinch said artificial intelligence will be one of the key forces shaping the next stage of digital finance, particularly as commerce, payments and financial decision-making become increasingly automated. He pointed to KuCoin’s ongoing investment in crypto-native AI initiatives, saying, “When we look at an e-commerce business now, anyone can buy a domain, anyone can set up a website, and they can find a supplier. Where we start to see this fall apart is when we look at the payment function of this automation. It is not possible or at least very difficult to automate around fiat banking for this purpose, as it incurs delays and a range of other challenges, this is where KuCoin plays a unique role in this adaptation of disruptive technology.” Which is exactly what KuCoin has taken on, designing systems that support how users, developers and intelligent agents access market intelligence, on-chain information and crypto capabilities.

Pinch concluded that over the next three to five years, crypto payments may become less visible as a technology and more natural as a financial behaviour, with KuCard truly leading the way. “KuCard as a product, I think we talk about it less, right? If you think about just a typical card payment, no one talks about using the card and how they have a CBA card or how it’s a Mastercard. They just pay for a coffee, they pay the bills, whatever it may be. And we might abbreviate it when it comes to crypto, but we’ll stop talking about it, “said Pinch.

About KuCoin

Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform built on trust and security, serving over 40 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Known for its reliability and user-first approach, the platform combines advanced technology, deep liquidity, and strong security safeguards to deliver a seamless trading experience. KuCoin provides access to 1,500+ digital assets through a broad product suite and remains committed to building transparent, compliant, and user-centric digital asset infrastructure for the future of finance, backed by SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certifications. In recent years, KuCoin has built a strong global compliance foundation, marked by key milestones including AUSTRAC registration in Australia, a MiCA license in Europe, and regulatory progress in other markets.

Learn more:www.kucoin.com

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SEOUL, South Korea, June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Informa Markets Korea has officially opened pre-registration for CPHI/ Hi Korea 2026, taking place at COEX, Seoul, from August 25 to 27. Pre-registered visitors enjoy complimentary entries.

This year marks the largest edition to date, expanding across COEX Halls C, E and The Platz with exhibition space up approximately 14% year-on-year. Around 420 companies from over 70 countries will showcase their latest ingredients, products and technology solutions to an estimated 12,000+ industry professionals.

As the Korea edition of the global CPHI series, the show offers a truly international meeting point where pharma, bio, and nutraceutical players from around the world come together. Global companies network with one another, Korean players strengthening domestic partnerships, and cross-border collaborations forming in every direction. Underpinned by Korea’s leading pharma manufacturing, advanced CDMO infrastructure, and fast-growing nutraceutical market, the show serves as a strategic platform for business across Asia and beyond.

Major government and industry organizations have stepped forward as sponsors, including the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), Korea Fund for Regenerative Medicine (KFRM), Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Korea Health Functional Food Association (KHFF), Korea Drug Research Association (KDRA), Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA), and DIPS. The Bio Zone is co-organized with the Korea Biomedicine Industry Association (KoBIA).

Expanded Seminar & Conference Program

Reflecting strong industry interest, the conference program expands from 4 tracks last year to 6 tracks this year, offering broader coverage of the industry. Following last year’s success, the K-Health Conference will cover MFDS-led discussions on personalized health functional food regulations.

On the bio and pharma side, dedicated sessions spotlight Korea’s emerging K-platform technologies, including ADC, TPD, and RPT, and clinical trials, alongside the latest GLP-1-related developments. The program also features the Biohealth Policy Forum hosted by KDRA, offering further insights into industry policy direction and strategic priorities.

The conference also includes IR sessions, a Startup Challenge, and the Global Build-Up Program, supporting commercialization and market entry across Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, and the United States.

Hall E Nearing Sell-Out. Final Booth Applications

Hall E, secured to accommodate overflow demand, is also nearing full capacity. Companies considering participation are encouraged to apply early.

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