Episode #23 OKX ft. Hong Fang
Thu Dec 18 2025
This episode of The New Money Podcast features Hong Fang, President of OKX, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges serving over 60 million users. Hong traces her path from Goldman Sachs into crypto and explains how Bitcoin and open, auditable infrastructure address TradFi’s opacity, credit dependence, and widening inequality. She details OKX’s rebrand and unified CeFi–DeFi strategy, including its expanding self-custody wallet, OKX Pay, and the Brazil-focused OKX Card, alongside licensing progress across key jurisdictions. The conversation explores how OKX builds trust through on-chain proof of reserves, multi-layered controls, and a local–global “team of teams” model, and why hiring for passion and a growth mindset remains central to the company’s culture. Hong concludes by emphasizing that entering crypto requires humility and curiosity in an industry where assumptions must constantly be challenged.
Key Chapters
01:00 Hong joins to discuss OKX’s strategy
02:14 Hong recounts her path to crypto
04:52 The discussion examines TradFi’s opacity and incentives
12:49 OKX integrates CeFi and DeFi strategies
16:28 Product innovation bridges payments and self-custody
19:20 Hong outlines priorities and leadership philosophy
24:24 Local CEOs operate within global frameworks
27:05 Trust is earned through verifiable controls
29:50 Quickfire Insights on Fintech and Crypto Trends
This is NOT financial, tax, or legal advice
Music by Marcelo Cataldo - http://www.marcelocataldo.com
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This episode of The New Money Podcast features Hong Fang, President of OKX, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges serving over 60 million users. Hong traces her path from Goldman Sachs into crypto and explains how Bitcoin and open, auditable infrastructure address TradFi’s opacity, credit dependence, and widening inequality. She details OKX’s rebrand and unified CeFi–DeFi strategy, including its expanding self-custody wallet, OKX Pay, and the Brazil-focused OKX Card, alongside licensing progress across key jurisdictions. The conversation explores how OKX builds trust through on-chain proof of reserves, multi-layered controls, and a local–global “team of teams” model, and why hiring for passion and a growth mindset remains central to the company’s culture. Hong concludes by emphasizing that entering crypto requires humility and curiosity in an industry where assumptions must constantly be challenged. Key Chapters 01:00 Hong joins to discuss OKX’s strategy 02:14 Hong recounts her path to crypto 04:52 The discussion examines TradFi’s opacity and incentives 12:49 OKX integrates CeFi and DeFi strategies 16:28 Product innovation bridges payments and self-custody 19:20 Hong outlines priorities and leadership philosophy 24:24 Local CEOs operate within global frameworks 27:05 Trust is earned through verifiable controls 29:50 Quickfire Insights on Fintech and Crypto Trends This is NOT financial, tax, or legal advice Music by Marcelo Cataldo - http://www.marcelocataldo.com