As crypto adoption accelerates across the Asia-Pacific region, traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems are beginning to merge into a single, interoperable landscape. At the forefront of this transformation is Jamie Elkaleh,  who envisions a future where blockchain technology seamlessly integrates with established financial systems. Speaking on regulatory innovation, real-world stablecoin use, and the global path toward inclusive finance, Elkaleh explores how collaboration — not competition — between TradFi and DeFi will define the next decade of financial evolution.

Jamie Elkaleh is the Chief Marketing Officer at Bitget Wallet, where he leads global brand strategy, growth marketing, and user education for one of the world’s leading non-custodial crypto wallets. He spearheaded Bitget Wallet’s 2025 rebrand and the launch of its Crypto for Everyone vision, helping scale the platform to over 80 million users across 130+ blockchains. A former Content Lead at Binance, Jamie brings deep expertise in Web3 storytelling, ecosystem growth, and marketing strategy. His early career as an analyst in professional sports shaped his performance-driven approach to team building and market execution. Jamie is also the founder of two onchain education platforms and a member of the Forbes Council, where he advocates for blockchain accessibility and inclusive innovation in fintech. His work bridges product, content, and community to drive mass adoption of decentralized technologies.

1. Bitget Wallet recently rolled out a crypto card across nine Asia-Pacific markets in partnership with Visa. How do you see the relationship between traditional finance and decentralized finance evolving?

The line between traditional and decentralized finance is gradually disappearing. What we’re seeing now is the integration of blockchain infrastructure into established financial systems, creating an interoperable layer that combines the trust of regulated finance with the efficiency of onchain technology. Traditional rails are learning from crypto’s transparency and speed, while Web3 solutions are embracing compliance and consumer protection. This convergence is laying the foundation for a new generation of financial products, where stablecoins, tokenized assets, and onchain settlement can operate safely within a regulated global framework.

2. In some countries in Asia, regulations have been relatively more flexible towards emerging crypto technologies. Could this be a model the UK could follow?

Asia’s approach has been defined by clarity and collaboration between regulators and innovators. Instead of restricting new technology, regulators across the region have opted to build structured frameworks that encourage responsible experimentation under supervision. This has allowed financial innovation to progress while ensuring safeguards around redemption, reserves, and consumer protection. The UK’s own framework is moving in a similar direction, but there’s value in observing how Asia has balanced flexibility with discipline. When regulation provides both certainty and room for innovation, it accelerates industry maturity and ultimately benefits consumers.

3. Stablecoins are already being used in Asia for daily transactions: from remittances to retail. Do you think the UK is ready for such a shift? What could it learn from Asia in terms of infrastructure and public adoption?

Asia demonstrates how digital assets can transition from speculative tools to everyday financial instruments. In several markets, stablecoins are already being used for remittances, travel, and retail payments, supported by clear regulatory oversight and easy-to-use wallet experiences. The UK has the institutional foundation to follow a similar path, but readiness will depend on infrastructure, particularly instant settlement, transparent conversion mechanisms, and strong consumer education. Asia’s progress shows that adoption happens when users don’t need to understand the technology — they simply see a faster, more accessible, and cost-efficient way to pay.

4. In your view, what key elements would be necessary for achieving a truly inclusive crypto ecosystem, and how can global alignment help make this a reality?

An inclusive crypto ecosystem requires three pillars: trust, accessibility, and interoperability. Trust comes from clear rules on redemption and reserves. Accessibility comes from user experiences that make crypto as seamless as traditional payments. And interoperability ensures assets can move freely across jurisdictions without fragmentation. Global alignment on these principles will be crucial, especially as more users begin managing, sending, and spending value directly onchain. When policies and standards begin to align, it allows wallets to connect people everywhere to a unified and transparent financial system built for the digital age.