James Kim is a technology and investment professional with experience in blockchain strategy, venture capital, and business development. He is the co-founder and co-chief executive officer of CrossAngle Inc., the operator of the crypto data and research platform Xangle. Kim has also served in various advisory and academic roles related to Web3 and digital assets. ^[1]​

Education

Kim attended Yonsei University from 2003 to 2008, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Management. During his time at the university, he focused on business administration, which laid the groundwork for his future career in finance, technology, and venture capital. ^[2]​

Career

Kim began his professional career serving as an interpreting officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force from 2008 to 2011. In this role, he was responsible for supporting military diplomacy and international communications, developing skills in cross-cultural engagement and high-level communication.

Following his military service, Kim transitioned to the financial sector, joining Samsung Securities in 2011 as a sales trader. For three years, he focused on equity and derivatives trading, gaining firsthand experience in traditional financial markets. In 2014, he moved to Samsung Electronics, where he worked in mobile sales and marketing until 2016. His responsibilities included market analysis, product strategy development, and regional sales planning for the company's mobile division.

In 2016, Kim entered the investment and venture capital field, taking a role as a team manager at NXC, the holding company of gaming giant Nexon. At NXC, he contributed to investment evaluation and business development initiatives. He then served as managing director at the venture capital firm NXVP from 2017 to 2018. During this period, he became deeply involved in the cryptocurrency space, participating in significant acquisitions and identifying key challenges within the emerging market. Concurrent with his role at NXVP, he also served as a board member for the design company Magisso from 2017 to 2018, where he advised on international market strategy.

In 2018, Kim co-founded CrossAngle Inc. and became its co-chief executive officer. Alongside his leadership at CrossAngle, he has held several advisory and academic positions. From 2018 to 2022, he was a senior investment advisor at SB Partners. He also returned to his alma mater, Yonsei University, serving as an adjunct professor from 2019 to 2024. Since 2022, Kim has been an external advisor to the management consulting firm Bain & Company. ^[3]​

Xangle (CrossAngle Inc.)

In 2018, Kim co-founded CrossAngle Inc., the company behind the crypto-asset disclosure and data platform Xangle. As co-CEO, he has led the company's mission to address the problem of information asymmetry in the cryptocurrency market. Xangle operates as a global disclosure platform that collects, validates, and distributes information on crypto projects. The platform aims to build trust within the ecosystem by providing objective data and credibility ratings. This allows investors to make more informed decisions and helps legitimate projects communicate their progress and value proposition effectively. Kim has emphasized that trust is a fundamental component of responsible crypto investing, and Xangle was designed to provide the infrastructure to foster it. ^{[1] [4]}​

Interviews

Xangle AMA

In August 2025, the South Korean Stablecoin Hackathon, organized in collaboration with Xangle, began with an introductory session led by Aiden Park from Kaia and Kim, who outlined the event's goals. The hackathon aimed to foster innovative business models using stablecoins, specifically the Korean won-stablecoin and USDT, and attracted over 200 participants. Notable companies such as Tether and KakaoPay participated in this effort to promote the stablecoin ecosystem, while legislators also showed interest. The submission period spanned from August 13 to August 27, with the finalists being announced on September 1 and a final demo day on September 3. The event aimed to identify promising projects, supporting them through guidance and potential funding, with particular emphasis placed on user cases for stablecoin applications. Participants were encouraged to propose their ideas, regardless of their technical background, as the focus was on innovative concepts, especially for the won-stablecoin. Overall, the hackathon aimed to strengthen the stablecoin narrative in Korea by connecting new projects with existing infrastructures and mentorship opportunities. ^[5]

Crypto Disclosure Platform

On the Zilliqa podcast in March 2021, Kim discussed his background and the mission of Xangle, a global disclosure platform for crypto assets. Before founding Xangle, James worked as a managing director in a venture capital firm and was involved in significant acquisitions in the cryptocurrency space. He identified a gap in trustworthy information for investors in the crypto market, which led to the creation of a platform that validates and distributes project disclosures. Xangle aims to address information asymmetry, enhancing transparency between crypto projects and their investors. Kim emphasized the importance of trust in crypto investments and shared how Xangle categorizes projects and provides objective credibility ratings. He also highlighted the unique characteristics of the Korean crypto market, characterized by aggressive retail investors, high trading activity, and an evolving regulatory landscape. Overall, the discussion underscored the growing emphasis on transparency and responsible investment practices in the crypto industry. ^[4]