Oh Kyeongseok (오경석), CEO of Dunamu, said the digital asset industry is entering a new phase of growth. He stressed the need to connect blockchain technology with the real economy and build new financial services and infrastructure.

In an opening address at D-CON 2026 held on Nov. 10 at the Fairmont Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, Oh said, "Skills built up in difficult times do not disappear and will surely become the foundation for the next growth." He said the digital asset industry is at an important moment where new opportunities and challenges intersect.

He assessed that the current digital asset industry was not created in a short period, but is the result of continued technology development, institutional improvements and attempts at new business models even when market interest was low.

Oh said, "In every difficult period, someone quietly wrote code, someone laid an institutional foundation, and someone else continued various attempts that could be accepted by the public." He explained that major changes in the industry began with sustained technology development and investment regardless of market conditions.

He said efforts to improve blockchain technology's scalability, efficiency, security and usability have led to the development of new financial services and infrastructure.

He also mentioned security issues surrounding the financial sector and the digital asset industry.

Oh said new security threats using artificial intelligence (AI) are emerging. He stressed that the digital asset industry must continue efforts to strengthen security systems and protect market trust.

He said the digital asset industry has faced various difficulties such as market downturns and regulatory uncertainty during its growth, but long-term technology development and investment could determine future competitiveness.

He added, "Moves to connect blockchain to the real economy are also growing." He said it is time to find concrete answers about what competitiveness to build and what path to create.

Oh also stressed the need to view digital assets as one pillar of the financial industry and national growth engines. He said the foundation for use in financial services and the real economy should be expanded rather than remaining at the level of the technology itself.

He said, "As experts representing the domestic digital asset industry have gathered in one place, I hope this discussion and debate will be a time to find new possibilities and solutions."