Sei’s Strategy in Asia: Compliance First, Institutions Next

Layer-1 blockchain Sei is using Japan’s licensing regime and partnerships with global institutions as the cornerstone of its expansion into Asia, according to Lee Zhu, the network’s director of growth for APAC.

Speaking with Decrypt ahead of a packed week at Token2049 in Singapore, Zhu said Sei secured the necessary approvals in Japan last year, enabling listings on Binance Japan and OKX Japan. 

Japan’s exchange licensing process is among the most stringent globally, making it a rare early entry for a Layer-1 blockchain.

“Clearer regulations in these markets help the team determine the best path forward and allocate resources effectively,” Zhu said. “By staying compliant and responsive to regulatory changes, Sei aims to support further growth and ensure long-term success in the APAC region.”

Sei’s institutional pitch is underpinned by Circle’s native USDC deployment on Sei and tokenization efforts led by Apollo through Securitize. Zhu said these integrations lower friction for exchanges and unlock a “gateway” for structured products and derivatives.

Unlike rivals Solana and Sui, Sei combines high throughput benchmarks with EVM compatibility, a move Zhu said eliminates switching costs for the 90% of developers already coding in Solidity.

In Korea, Sei ranks among the top three by trading volume, Zhu said, despite its lower market capitalization and TVL relative to larger competitors. He also pointed to pockets of growth in GameFi and SocialFi, where Sei has, on some days, outpaced Solana in daily active users.

Zhu described the next 12 months as balancing two tracks: onboarding institutions through RWA tokenization and building a broader developer base in talent-rich hubs like Vietnam and Indonesia. He said that while high throughput “is a filter” for institutions, without capacity, “you’re not even in the door.”

Asked how Sei will weather market downturns, Zhu said the team was built during a bear market and operates with a “prudent, impact-focused” mindset. 

“In crypto, if you survive, you stand a bigger chance to be successful,” he said.