The Reporters Roundtable recently hosted a special session at Korea Blockchain Week (KBW), featuring Sean Lee, a Forbes contributor specializing in digital assets. The discussion explored Sean’s background, the evolution of his reporting focus, and the current landscape of stablecoins and blockchain regulation.
Sean Lee is the co-founder of IDA, a fintech company based in Hong Kong that focuses on stablecoin technology for cross-border trade. His career began in traditional finance, with over 15 years in the financial services sector in New York and Hong Kong. Over time, Sean observed how technology was increasingly driving the evolution of financial services. This realization led him to transition from traditional finance to digital assets, and eventually to stablecoins, which he now views as foundational financial infrastructure rather than just another digital currency.
Sean’s first story for Forbes centered on the theme of “de-dollarization”—the idea that countries, particularly those in the BRICS bloc, might reduce their reliance on the US dollar for trade. While the US dollar still dominates global trade, Sean notes that the rise of blockchain and local currency stablecoins could eventually shift this dynamic. His reporting often involves meeting with policymakers and regulators to understand their approach to digital asset policy and the globalization of crypto.
For both Forbes and Sean, the audience is generally not crypto-native. Instead, they are interested in broader stories, such as government initiatives and regulatory developments. Sean is drawn to stories that bridge traditional finance and the Web3 world, especially those that highlight how technology is driving change. He also emphasizes the importance of covering developments in Asia, which is a major hub for blockchain innovation but often underreported in Western media.
Sean looks for founders who can clearly articulate the problem their technology solves. While technical innovation is important, he values stories that are relevant to current or near-term challenges. Projects that focus on real-world use cases and can communicate their impact in a relatable way are more likely to capture his interest.
A recurring theme in Sean’s writing is the balance between innovation and regulatory compliance. He believes that as crypto adoption grows, regulation becomes inevitable. While some in the Web3 community may resist regulation, Sean argues that compliance is necessary for mainstream adoption and influence. His articles often explore both the technological advancements and the legal frameworks that shape the industry.
Sean’s work with IDA is focused on addressing the challenges of using stablecoins for cross-border transactions. He explains that while stablecoins offer fast and cheap transfers, the real challenge lies in converting between fiat and stablecoins in a compliant manner. Different jurisdictions are developing their own stablecoin regimes, which can create barriers to seamless cross-border transfers.
One of the biggest technical challenges is building privacy and identity layers on top of stablecoins to protect business transactions while ensuring regulatory compliance. On the regulatory side, achieving mutual recognition between jurisdictions remains a significant hurdle. Without this, a stablecoin licensed in one country may not be recognized in another, limiting its usefulness for international trade.
Sean advises founders to be authentic and problem-focused when reaching out to journalists. Generic narratives and buzzwords are less effective than clear, relevant stories that demonstrate real impact. He encourages projects to avoid overused themes like “financial inclusion” unless they can provide specific examples of whom they are helping and how.
For those looking to share ideas or pitch stories, Sean recommends reaching out via LinkedIn, where he shares most of his content and engages with an audience interested in the intersection of traditional finance and Web3.
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