Suppose you are interested in knowing about cryptocurrency in Malaysia, and you wish to meet and learn from like-minded people in the crypto/blockchain community, and share your knowledge and experiences. In that case, this article is for you.
Whether you're Malaysian or looking to get into the crypto space, here are some of Malaysia's many communities and events you can follow and join in.
This article has three main parts:
As the saying goes, if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. Many new opportunities arise when you join a community or start one yourself.
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Founded in 2016, the FinTech Association of Malaysia aims to convene the many innovative start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country's financial industry. The association claims its members are put through a rigorous vetting process, comprising "senior investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and influencers who are passionate about growing the FinTech sector globally."
Founded in 2018, the Malaysia Blockchain Association is "an international non-profit social enterprise" that aims to build a sustainable blockchain community by developing a talent pool that can technically contribute to Southeast Asia's blockchain community. The association has five membership tiers and is open to everyone interested in blockchain/cryptocurrency in Malaysia.
Founded in 2017, the Access Blockchain Association Malaysia is one of three ACCESS associations, with the other two being its sister organizations in Singapore and Indonesia. Its mission is to "advocate utility, liberty, and creativity for Malaysian enterprises, consumers, and technologists." There are three membership tiers for students, professionals, and corporations---and you can pay your membership fees in both Ringgit Malaysia and Bitcoin.
Founded in 2018, the Malaysia Blockchain Technology Association aims to connect individuals, startups, businesses, and organizations in Asia to help develop the blockchain and technology ecosystem in the region. While membership information could not be found on its website at the time of writing, the website's news section indicates that the association has held and/or been involved in local blockchain events.
Founded in 2012, the Bitcoin Malaysia DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organisation) was created by two local Bitcoin enthusiasts to "provide a safe space for new people to understand cryptocurrencies, BUIDL and prepare them for the global blockchain industry and Web3 economy." The community stays active with webinars and events and boasts a Facebook group of over 56,000 members.
The Malaysia Cryptoversity community has an active Facebook page and telegram group, which they use to share the latest industry news while hosting the occasional event.
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All roads in the Malaysian cryptocurrency and blockchain industry lead to Bank Negara Malaysia, the country's central bank. In recent years, the central bank has actively formulated frameworks and regulations for the local cryptocurrency industry. Local industry players would do well to heed its notices and announcements.
The Securities Commission Malaysia works closely with BNM to guide the issuance and governance of securities in the country. The SC began playing a prominent role in the local cryptocurrency industry after the country's Ministry of Finance decided to categorize digital currencies and digital tokens as securities.
Speaking of the Ministry of Finance, the MoF website is always worth a visit if you're looking for official data to understand better the country's economic and fiscal outlook to prepare and position your investments. The ministry works closely with BNM and the SC on matters related to cryptocurrency and blockchain.
Founded in 1996, MDEC is Malaysia's predominant government agency overseeing all things related to the digital economy, including formulating new policies, programs, and events. This occasionally includes initiatives related to cryptocurrency, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. Follow them to keep an eye on the latest opportunities in the Malaysian technology industry.
Founded in 2014 and launched by the then US President Barack Obama, MaGIC has played a key role in building the Malaysian startup and social enterprise ecosystem, especially at the grassroots level. Let MaGIC be your go-to resource for learning, networking, and getting help building your crypto or blockchain startup.
Founded in 2003, Cradle Fund was one of Malaysia's first startup investment funds, known for investing and supporting innovative new startups such as MoneyMatch, a local money transfer startup built on the Ripple blockchain. The fund is also known for its flagship Coach and Grow Programme and pioneering the Angel Tax Incentive.
New events, big and small, free and paid, join the fray every year. Here are a few notable annual events and platforms. You can find more events to attend and groups to join near you.
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The 16th World Blockchain Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur in June 2020 to support the country's National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030. The event will gather "400+ pre-qualified C-level executives, heads of blockchain, and heads of innovation".
SCxSC, which stands for Synergistic Collaborations by the SC, is an annual Fintech conference organized by the Securities Commission Malaysia. Cryptocurrency, digital assets, and other topics such as Islamic fintech and robs-advisories were discussed during the 2019 conference. While the event will not be held in 2020, one must keep an eye on the annual event hosted by the entity regulating this industry.
Bank Negara Malaysia holds MyFintech Week once every two years, typically in conjunction with MDEC's Malaysia Tech Week. The event brings together industry movers and shakers to shape the future of financial services in Malaysia. The last MyFW was in 2019, so the next one will likely be in 2021.
Eventbrite is a popular global event ticketing platform, especially among startups in the digital space. The platform also has a built-in search function. You can use it to look up events by date, place, and price. Click the following links to see search results for upcoming.
Meetup is the most popular platform for finding and building local communities. The platform allows people to start and grow local groups and host online and offline events. Click the following links to see search results for
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