Kevin Kang is a co-founder of Reap, a financial technology company that provides global financial infrastructure and payment solutions. With a background in investment banking and infrastructure investing, Kang's work at Reap focuses on bridging traditional financial systems with blockchain technology, particularly through the use of stablecoins and virtual cards. ^[1]​

Education

Kang attended the University of Waterloo, where he graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Business and Science. He later pursued postgraduate studies at INSEAD, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) between 2017 and 2018. ^[2]​

Career

Kang began his career in finance in 2011 as an associate in financial advisory services at Deloitte in Shanghai, where he was involved in corporate finance and advisory engagements. From 2012 to 2015, he worked in the investment banking division at Scotiabank in Toronto. During his time there, he gained experience in capital markets and corporate finance within a large, traditional financial institution. This experience provided him with firsthand observations of the accessibility barriers within legacy financial systems for both Web2 and Web3 companies, which later motivated his entrepreneurial path.

Following his time at Scotiabank, Kang moved to Hong Kong and worked as an investor at Symbior Energy Limited from 2015 to 2017. His responsibilities included regional deal origination, the evaluation of investment opportunities, sourcing projects with local developers, and supporting both equity and debt fundraising activities for various infrastructure projects.

In 2018, Kang co-founded Reap in Hong Kong alongside Daren Guo, who is described as his childhood best friend. The company was established to address the gaps Kang had identified in the financial industry, with a mission to provide global financial connectivity for businesses by developing stablecoin-enabled infrastructure. As co-founder, Kang oversees the company's operations, strategic growth initiatives, and organizational efficiency. His role involves applying his expertise in financial regulation and risk management from his banking background to manage the company's expansion. ^{[2] [3]}

Interviews

Crypto Cards

In a January 2026 interview on the True Founder Stories podcast, Kang discussed the early stages of building Reap, describing initial efforts that began with product mock-ups and investor pitches before a viable product was in place. He recounted early operational challenges, including the loss of a key partner that significantly disrupted the company’s business model and nearly led to its closure. Kang explained how Reap’s strategy evolved, noting a shift from card processing aggregation to direct card issuance in order to gain greater control over payment infrastructure. He reflected on the difficulties of early fundraising, where investor interest centered more on execution capability than the original business concept. The conversation also covered how the company adapted through external disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest in Hong Kong. Kang outlined a long-term vision for a financial system where distinctions between fiat currency and stablecoins become less relevant. He concluded by discussing lessons learned from entrepreneurship, emphasizing experimentation, resilience, and the importance of learning through repeated attempts. ^[4]

Swipeable Stablecoins

In November 2025, Kang was interviewed by Jim McCarthy of Thredd at the Singapore Fintech Festival, where they discussed developments in the payments ecosystem and their shared professional background at Visa. The conversation explored the historical impact of Bitcoin’s 2008 white paper on the payments industry and how it influenced innovation among traditional financial institutions. Kang discussed the founding of Reap in 2018 and the growing prominence of stablecoins, noting increased industry attention at major fintech events. He explained Reap’s role as a financial infrastructure provider, focusing on improving money movement for fintech partners using stablecoin technology. Kang emphasized that clients approach the company with operational challenges rather than specific technology requests, seeking more efficient payment solutions. He outlined how stablecoins can enhance existing payment networks by enabling faster settlement and real-time transaction visibility, while still integrating with traditional financial systems. The interview also addressed the use of stablecoin-funded corporate cards, regulatory considerations in the digital asset space, and the factors contributing to strong fintech activity in Southeast Asia, including regional infrastructure and cross-border banking access. ^[5]

Virtual Cards

In a February 2023 interview on DigFin with host James DiBiase, Kang discussed trends in business-to-business fintech and digital payments, focusing on how COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation among traditional companies. He described how increased online operations drove demand for virtual payment tools, including virtual cards for travel, payroll, and expense management. Kang explained that virtual cards function similarly to physical cards but offer greater flexibility, allowing businesses to generate purpose-specific cards and integrate embedded finance solutions. He outlined Reap’s focus on digital-first businesses such as e-commerce firms and technology startups, while noting a growing client base among larger enterprises with more complex spending needs. The conversation also addressed how centralized payment data improves financial visibility and control for organizations. Kang discussed adoption trends, competition from banks and fintech firms, and Reap’s involvement with Web3 companies that must manage both digital and traditional financial systems. He concluded by describing the company’s funding and expansion strategy, including plans to enhance enterprise software offerings while balancing growth and profitability. ^[7]

Panels

Niche to Norm

In June 2024, Kang participated in a panel at Proof of Talk alongside Raphael Bloch of The Big Whale, Bibin Babu of Paycio, and Raj Brahmbhatt of Zeebu to discuss developments in crypto payment solutions. The session opened with reflections on blockchain regulation in Europe, including the role of frameworks such as MiCA, before moving into a broader discussion on the evolution of crypto payments. Panelists defined crypto payments from different perspectives: Brahmbhatt emphasized global transaction efficiency, Babu focused on direct value transfer compared to traditional banking, and Kang described payments as a complex system integrating legacy financial infrastructure with blockchain technology. The discussion addressed ongoing challenges, including liquidity constraints in Web3 and the need to bridge traditional finance with crypto systems to improve efficiency. Panelists agreed that crypto payments remain niche but expressed cautious optimism about broader adoption as merchant acceptance grows. Additional topics included the potential coexistence of central bank digital currencies with cryptocurrencies, the importance of user education, and the development of supporting infrastructure. The session concluded with remarks on transparency and the long-term prospects of decentralized payment systems. ^[6]