Ran Wei
Senior global partnership development manager at Orbital
What is the role of crypto education in your business? How do you approach it?
At Orbital, a traditional fintech and digital asset firm, crypto education plays a critical role, covering both internal and external stakeholders to ensure everyone involved is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the crypto space. Given the fast-paced nature of the crypto industry, ongoing education is a priority. We are actively engaged in industry panels and webinars to be part of the report generation.
As for internal stakeholders, we understand the importance of employee training, so hires at Orbital receive comprehensive compliance and crypto education during onboarding, followed by regular refresher training sessions. One of the founders, Luke Wingfield Digby, a crypto expert, regularly shared industry insights, news, and market trends with the team. This real-time education was invaluable for Orbital to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
When it comes to external stakeholders, we offer tailored educational resources, including educational pagers, co-written reports, and personalised consultations for different audiences. Crypto education is less common for clients in more traditional industries or mainstream Web2 businesses. For them, our approach focuses more on basic blockchain concepts, such as how blockchain and crypto can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and open new revenue streams, rather than detailed regulatory requirement
Are there any particular pain points that need to be addressed? How should the industry approach them?
When I began working in the crypto industry in 2018, learning resources were relatively limited. I mostly had to rely on whitepapers, which often felt tedious. I kept going because I had invested my own money in crypto, which made it feel like a serious game. From my experience, over 70% of people who were interested and consulted with me about crypto were either concerned about security due to scams and misinformation or gave it a try but gave up halfway because the concepts were too complex.
To improve crypto education, the industry needs to develop some standardised and easy-to-understand programs for various audiences. For instance, I used the ACAMS Risk Management Program for Crypto Assets and Blockchain for my personal compliance study. The credibility of ACAMS and the course's relevance to my role in Business Development in the crypto space were spot-on. It would be beneficial if respected learning institutions and key players created courses tailored to different regions, job function needs, and crypto-knowledge levels. Standardised programs can enhance credibility and make learning more effective.
What do you think the industry should do better in terms of crypto education and knowledge?
It is important to leverage crypto community power as they play a significant role in education and industry advancement. Groups like C-Enable, an executive research firm focused on the crypto space, demonstrate how community-driven initiatives can foster knowledge sharing, empower females, and support career progression.
Improving industry awareness is also crucial. The crypto industry has often been associated with a negative reputation. While improving this reputation through marketing is important, it is also essential to highlight the accessibility of the crypto space. For many, especially those without a finance background, increasing awareness and providing clear, approachable educational resources can make the industry seem more accessible and less intimidating.
