APAC is fast becoming one of the world’s most competitive crypto regions, generating USD 1,750.9 million in revenue in 2024 alone. With growth forecast to continue at a strong 14% CAGR through 2030, the momentum is undeniable. But that growth brings new friction, and some of the biggest pressure is falling squarely on product and tech teams.
This article builds on the broader fintech hiring trends we explored in our recent post, APAC Fintech Hiring Insights for 2025, by taking a closer look at how verification technology in crypto is driving new hiring priorities. In this article, we explore how identity verification has evolved from a compliance checkpoint to a strategic priority and what that means for hiring across crypto product and engineering teams.
We spoke with Andrew Scotts, our APAC Technology specialist at EC1 Partners, who works closely with leading Fintech’s including crypto platforms scaling across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. He’s seeing firsthand how product and engineering teams are now central to solving one of the industry’s biggest challenges for 2025: identity verification.
From Compliance Checkbox to Product Growth Driver
Verification used to be a compliance hurdle. But in APAC’s crypto market, it’s become a new area of competition for growth, security, and user trust.
Here’s what changed in 2024 (SumSub: State of Crypto Report):
- 48% rise in fraud across platforms, making smarter AI-led detection systems essential.
- 46% improvement in verification speeds, reducing drop-off with faster onboarding.
- 93.39% onboarding success rate globally, driven by biometric and document-free verification.
- 20%+ traffic spikes during major events – like Trump’s re-election and Bitcoin rallies – putting huge pressure on platforms to activate users quickly and securely.
Verification isn’t just about compliance. It’s about conversion and improvements need to be seen in 2025.
So the real question is:
- How is your platform balancing user experience with risk?
- Could your onboarding flow be turning away high-value users?
- Could smarter verification unlock more revenue?
Andy explains:
“Crypto platforms are rethinking onboarding completely. They’re hiring engineers and product people who understand the complexity behind verification flows. It’s no longer enough to build something that works – it has to work fast, at scale, and across different legal regimes. That’s where the hiring gap is.
And it’s not just product or engineering – we’re seeing this shift across all areas of tech. From data and infrastructure to compliance and design, teams are being asked to prioritise speed, security, and seamless user experiences all at once.”
What Product and Tech Teams Need in 2025
Crypto platforms in APAC are now under pressure to deliver verification that’s:
- Secure – with AI and machine learning models that detect fraud in real-time
- Simple – through intuitive UX that guides users through complex ID checks
- Fast – leveraging biometrics that work across regions and devices
- Compliant – with local regulations like Singapore’s Payment Services Act and Hong Kong’s VASP framework
Getting this right is no small feat, which is why hiring demands are rapidly changing. While DXTalks recently outlined the top crypto jobs for 2025, Andy highlights a pattern of rising demand for the following roles and skillsets:
- Product Managers who can roadmap onboarding like a growth engine
- Engineers with experience in AI, biometrics, and regtech
- UX Designers focused on trust signals and localisation
- Compliance Technologists who understand scaling secure checks without friction
Why APAC? And Why Now?
Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia are leading the charge. This is shown in both regulation and innovation:
- Singapore – MAS’s Fintech Sandbox enables live testing of onboarding tools, backed by major institutions like DBS.
- Hong Kong – 98% pass rate on document-free verification, with government-backed projects exploring tokenisation and regtech collaboration.
- Australia – Strong blockchain education and government grants for compliance innovation.
These markets are creating the blueprint for how verification can become a competitive advantage.
Andy comments,“Verification technology developed in APAC is quickly becoming a global standard. Innovations built in Singapore are now powering platforms across LATAM, EMEA, and beyond. The real challenge for companies is finding the right talent who can scale that innovation rapidly and effectively, driving technology forward with strong expertise behind it”.
Looking Ahead: What Will Define Crypto Growth in 2025?
- 60% of crypto firms expect stricter regulations
- Fraud continues to climb
- Onboarding speed will define activation and retention
Verification isn’t just a compliance checkbox; it’s become one of the biggest drivers of growth and user trust in APAC’s crypto space. With regulations tightening and fraud on the rise, platforms that get verification right, making it fast, secure, and user-friendly, will stand out and win users for the long haul.
That’s why we’re seeing a shift. Crypto companies need people across product, engineering, UX, and compliance. People who not only have the technical skills but also understand the bigger picture, balancing the need for security with a smooth user experience.
Product and tech teams can no longer treat verification as a back-end task. It’s a front-line user experience issue – and potentially a major lever for growth.
If you’re thinking about how to build or grow your tech team in 2025, now’s the time to act. The right talent can make all the difference in helping your platform scale safely and stay ahead of the competition.
If you want to chat about what that looks like or need a hand finding the right people, reach out to Andy and the team at EC1 Partners.
