w2kinc

Wong Wai Ken is a seasoned fintech leader and proven builder with over a decade of experience scaling innovative financial platforms in regulated markets. As the founding Country Manager and Director of StashAway Malaysia since 2018, he spearheaded the venture as Employee #1, transforming it from regulatory licensing and launch into the nation's largest digital investment manager—managing RM1.3 billion in assets under management (AUM) across 60,000 clients and a team of over 100. This 0-to-1 journey exemplifies his ability to navigate uncharted territories: securing Malaysia's inaugural Capital Markets Services Licence (CMSL) for a robo-advisor, establishing industry-leading compliance benchmarks with zero audit infringements, and driving explosive growth through client-centric innovation.

Under Ken's leadership, StashAway evolved from a single-portfolio offering into a full-suite digital wealth platform, launching groundbreaking products that democratized access to global assets. Highlights include StashAway Simple (2019), Malaysia's first unlimited high-yield cash management solution with over RM300 million AUM; Flexible Portfolios (2022), the market's pioneering customizable ETF builder attracting RM150 million from sophisticated investors; and forward-thinking crypto integrations like the Crypto Booster (2023) with 5–12% allocations in diversified portfolios, followed by Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs (2025) for unrestricted retail access. In 2025 alone, he designed and rolled out Shariah-compliant global multi-asset portfolios targeting Muslim investors across Malaysia, Singapore, and the UAE, alongside the ETF Explorer for transactional access to 80+ global ETFs—tapping into self-directed trends with cost efficiency at the core.

Ken's transferable skills position him uniquely for Crypto/Web3's next wave. His regulatory acumen—gaining approvals for crypto ETFs without limits on allocation or client segments, while partnering with enterprise players like Anchorage, Coinbase, and Fireblocks on stablecoin yields—mirrors the compliance hurdles in blockchain scaling, from DeFi token launches to tokenized assets. As a key Investment Committee member, he collaborated with the Group CIO to refine proprietary systematic frameworks across economic regimes, reviewing 80+ ETFs spanning equities, bonds, REITs, and derivatives, plus non-listed funds in private credit and equity—directly applicable to Web3 portfolio strategies amid volatile crypto cycles. His marketing prowess, pioneering influencer partnerships to boost organic referrals and cultivating thought leadership via outlets like The Edge, BFM, StarBiz, and Astro Awani, drove high-impact campaigns that generated millions in impressions and fueled client acquisition—skills primed for building Web3 communities and ecosystem alliances.

Prior to StashAway, Ken honed his deal-making and strategic edge at Affin Hwang Capital (VP, Equity Capital Markets, 2015–2018; SVP, Corporate Strategy, 2013–2015), executing IPOs and placements in energy, tech, and payments sectors, while leading post-merger integrations with BCG. At Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Associate, Investments, 2012–2013), he managed portfolio modeling, due diligence, and divestments in tourism and ICT, negotiating stakes with global partners like Mitsui. These foundations, built on a BCom/BEc from UNSW Sydney (majors in Finance and Economics) and a 3.7 GPA exchange at UNC Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler, underscore his blend of analytical rigor and executional grit.

After seven transformative years at StashAway—where he not only built a market leader but set the compliance and innovation bar for Southeast Asian fintech—Ken is energized for a new challenge in Crypto/Web3. As a builder who thrives on frontier disruption, he seeks to leverage his track record in regulated product launches, cross-border partnerships, and scalable growth to architect the next generation of decentralized finance solutions, bridging traditional finance with blockchain's borderless potential.