{"id":"jonathan-leong","title":"Jonathan Leong","content":"**Jonathan Leong** is a technology executive and venture investor, and the co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of [BTSE](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse), a financial services technology company focused on [digital asset](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) trading infrastructure. He also runs a venture fund that invests in fintech and emerging technology companies. [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) \n\n## Career\n\nLeong began coding at the age of 15 and has more than 20 years of experience developing high-performance, mission-critical systems. Early in his career, he built and led multiple technology ventures, combining software engineering expertise with business strategy and product development. In 2018, he co-founded [BTSE](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse) and served as its Chief Executive Officer from its founding, overseeing the development of its multi-currency [digital asset](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) exchange and derivatives platform. Under his leadership, [BTSE](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse) built trading infrastructure and related financial services designed to bridge traditional finance and [digital asset](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) markets, including institutional trading systems, retail products, and liquidity infrastructure. Alongside his work at [BTSE](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse), Leong has also managed a venture fund focused on investments in fintech and innovation-driven companies. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4)  [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) \n\n## Interviews\n\n### Crypto Infrastructure\n\nOn the Untold Stories podcast in June 2020, Leong discussed the evolution and current state of [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of building robust, scalable systems to support the industry’s growth. He highlighted that traditional financial mechanisms, such as high-frequency trading and legacy payment networks, have inherent inefficiencies, which [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) solutions aim to address through innovative platforms like [BTSE](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse). Leong underlined the significance of interoperability, decentralization, and user-friendly interfaces, stressing that the industry still requires further infrastructure development to enhance efficiency and adoption. He pointed out ongoing efforts to digitize assets such as gold, making them more accessible via [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain), and stressed that competition among exchanges fosters innovation, ultimately benefiting the ecosystem. Leong also reflected on the importance of scaling solutions, layered architectures, and modular designs to accommodate explosive growth while maintaining security and reliability. Throughout, he emphasized that the industry is still in a formative stage, with much infrastructure yet to be built to meet future demand and support mainstream adoption. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=PoXscg4GB3o)\n\n### More Than an Exchange\n\nIn a March 2020 interview with BLOCKTV, Leong discussed [BTSE’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse) positioning as more than a traditional [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) exchange, outlining its broader strategy to build a full suite of financial services around [digital assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets). He described [BTSE’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse) product approach as combining multi-currency support, unified order books, OTC services, lending, and asset management features, along with plans for consumer-facing tools such as a debit card to enable everyday spending of [digital assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets). Leong also explained the company’s decision to conduct its token sale on the [Liquid](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid) network, citing benefits such as faster transactions and enhanced confidentiality, and noted that its native token was designed to provide utility through fee reductions, rebates, and platform access. The conversation highlighted [BTSE’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse) efforts to reduce liquidity fragmentation and improve trading efficiency through a single integrated market structure, while also addressing regulatory considerations that influenced the company’s jurisdictional decisions. Overall, Leong emphasized [BTSE’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse) goal of bridging traditional financial services and [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) infrastructure to support broader adoption by retail and institutional investors. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=W3kAUB5eLAU)","summary":"Jonathan Leong is a technology executive and venture investor, known for co-founding BTSE. He has developed high-performance systems and runs a fund investing in fintech ventures.","images":[{"id":"QmSP2smrVqVssD8qhx6dcbt4N6KQJCMVh5cABNdpL6Q62p","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"people"}],"tags":[{"id":"Founder"},{"id":"Investor"},{"id":"Speaker"}],"media":[{"id":"QmRrxYpVVgKK5jYcozP1oeKGWb73ybBLoAP8fwxQVgekih","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"Qmc9hF5zAP3WcApxLGfrRXiR3XFqY2te2K8Cx5sVBXNmUC","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmP6VdKF78N1rAe5Qn5URBt9tj5SxT1yNAYQWFWaTzcrQy","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmdFJwHJgeZ7Ce7zPANdcbpqzUVFuXVygpbn82rcLWhzFU","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoXscg4GB3o","name":"PoXscg4GB3o","caption":"","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoXscg4GB3o","source":"YOUTUBE"},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3kAUB5eLAU","name":"W3kAUB5eLAU","caption":"","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3kAUB5eLAU","source":"YOUTUBE"}],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4\",\"url\":\"https://2019.abs.io/speakers/jonathan-leong/\",\"description\":\"ABS Speakers\",\"timestamp\":1782737416504},{\"id\":\"YEri64DpGWdzc36p\",\"url\":\"https://millionaireasia.wixsite.com/blog/single-post/2019/12/31/bridging-the-crypto-gap\",\"description\":\"MillionaireAsia\",\"timestamp\":1782737416504},{\"id\":\"97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoXscg4GB3o\",\"description\":\"Untold Stories Podcast\",\"timestamp\":1782737416504},{\"id\":\"rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3kAUB5eLAU\",\"description\":\"BLOCKTV Interview\",\"timestamp\":1782737416504},{\"id\":\"zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB\",\"description\":\"BTSE\",\"timestamp\":1782737506774,\"url\":\"https://www.btse.com/en\"}]"},{"id":"website","value":"https://www.btse.com/en"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"\"https://ipfs.everipedia.org/ipfs/QmaB4BARqEV6Jrxp8XYJFNaDxf36CyApiSkvjpoCEJb61U\""},{"id":"commit-message","value":"\"Added 20 hyperlinks to the content\""},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmaB4BARqEV6Jrxp8XYJFNaDxf36CyApiSkvjpoCEJb61U"}],"events":[],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"operator":{"id":"0xacb6c5AD52b8f605299B0d774CE97F26e3DB80c2"},"language":"en","version":1,"linkedWikis":{"blockchains":["btse"],"founders":[],"speakers":[]},"recentActivity":"{\"items\":[{\"id\":\"7e82c8ca-e819-434b-b2f0-f0455bc0de72\",\"title\":\"Jonathan Leong\",\"description\":\"Jonathan Leong is a technology executive and venture investor, known for co-founding BTSE. He has developed high-performance systems and runs a fund investing in fintech ventures.\",\"timestamp\":\"2026-06-29T16:18:58.719Z\",\"category\":\"people\",\"status\":{\"icon\":\"RiGlobalLine\",\"label\":\"Wiki Updated\",\"iconClassName\":\"text-green-500\"},\"user\":{\"name\":\"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889\",\"address\":\"0xacb6c5AD52b8f605299B0d774CE97F26e3DB80c2\"},\"button\":{\"label\":\"View Summary\",\"icon\":\"RiFileTextLine\"},\"summarySections\":[{\"title\":\"Lead (opening paragraph)\",\"subtitle\":\"Added internal wiki links in the opening paragraph.\",\"variant\":\"modified\",\"changeCount\":2,\"changes\":[\"Added link to BTSE: https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\",\"Added link to digital asset: https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\"]},{\"title\":\"Career\",\"subtitle\":\"Converted plain mentions to internal wiki links and added links for key terms in the Career section.\",\"variant\":\"modified\",\"changeCount\":2,\"changes\":[\"Linked 'BTSE' mentions to https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse (multiple occurrences) [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\",\"Linked 'digital asset' to https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets (multiple occurrences) [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\"]},{\"title\":\"Interviews — Crypto Infrastructure\",\"subtitle\":\"Added internal links for industry terms and company references in the Crypto Infrastructure subsection.\",\"variant\":\"modified\",\"changeCount\":3,\"changes\":[\"Linked 'crypto' to https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\",\"Linked 'BTSE' to https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\",\"Linked 'blockchain' to https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\"]},{\"title\":\"Interviews — More Than an Exchange\",\"subtitle\":\"Added internal links for company, product, and network names in the More Than an Exchange subsection.\",\"variant\":\"modified\",\"changeCount\":4,\"changes\":[\"Linked 'BTSE' mentions to https://iq.wiki/wiki/btse [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\",\"Linked 'cryptocurrency' to https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\",\"Linked 'digital assets' to https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\",\"Linked 'Liquid' to https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquid [[5]](#cite-id-zqDMu72CxFzN9GOB) [[1]](#cite-id-d7gfivg7NkCRyAJ4) [[2]](#cite-id-YEri64DpGWdzc36p) [[3]](#cite-id-97cgwNsLgTLQZKn4) [[4]](#cite-id-rr9FQCNYJ7PCynDr)\"]}]}]}"}