Inside IOST and BitTrade’s Community Gathering in Tokyo

Community members, industry professionals, and ecosystem partners gathered at Crypto Lounge GOX to reflect on IOST’s journey in Japan and explore the future of digital assets together.

On May 28, IOST and Japanese crypto exchange BitTrade co-hosted a community event at Crypto Lounge GOX, with CoinNinja joining as the media partner. Marking the first collaboration between IOST and BitTrade, IOST CEO Blake traveled from South Korea to attend the event in person.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Mr. Ishida of Cabinet, a familiar face in Japan’s crypto event scene. This was followed by a presentation from an IOST community member working in Web3 at a major Japanese corporation, who shared insights into the latest developments at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets.

The main talk session featured BitTrade Marketing Manager Ms. Hori and IOST CEO Blake, who reflected on the journey that led to IOST’s listing on BitTrade. The story dates back to 2020, when BitTrade held a community voting campaign for new token listings. Thanks to strong support from Japan’s crypto community, IOST secured the top spot and ultimately earned its listing.

Interestingly, both organizations share a similar timeline. IOST launched its mainnet in 2019, the same year BitTrade began operations in Japan. Looking back on the past several years, the speakers discussed how the industry has evolved and shared their perspectives on the dramatic changes that have shaped the market between 2019 and 2026.

To commemorate the occasion, BitTrade also announced a limited-time promotional campaign for its IOST lending service.

Following the talk session, attendees participated in a lively Kahoot! quiz competition featuring questions about both IOST and BitTrade. The top three participants received exclusive merchandise from the two organizations as prizes.

The event concluded with a networking session, where attendees had the opportunity to connect directly with exchange operators, blockchain builders, and ecosystem contributors. For many participants, it was a rare chance to engage with industry professionals in a more personal setting. Blake was especially pleased to meet community members who have supported IOST since its early days following the mainnet launch in 2019.

We are incredibly grateful to BitTrade for partnering with us on this event and to everyone who joined us in Tokyo. Community support has been a driving force behind IOST’s journey in Japan, and we remain committed to contributing to the growth of the country’s digital asset ecosystem.

We look forward to creating more opportunities for the community to connect, learn, and grow together in the years ahead.

About IOST

IOST is a multi-chain ecosystem focused on RWA infrastructure. With a commitment to innovation, security, and community engagement, IOST continues to develop solutions that bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized technologies.

For more information about IOST and its initiatives, visit iost.io or join our community channels!

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Inside IOST and BitTrade’s Community Gathering in Tokyo was originally published in IOST on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.