As the crypto world gains traction in contemporary society, Priscilla Ng, founder of Hong Kong OTC retail exchange Coiner, talks to Ha Rin Choi about the influence, significance and what the crypto trends are in store for us
We can’t talk about money without mentioning cryptocurrency these days. In the early days, before the emergence of Bitcoin, the concept of digital currency was an alien enterprise. And this is where Priscilla Ng, founder of Hong Kong OTC retail exchange Coiner comes in as she attempts to dispel misunderstanding of this new financial digital asset.
Priscilla Ng says, “I wanted not only to teach people how to invest and make profits but also build a small community. The place where everyone can get free information, discuss and learn from each other.”
“We would share our experiences with people along the way. So it’s not just about teaching customers how to earn money but getting the right concept in Coiner and fearlessly pursuing what they want,” she adds.
Two years after its establishment, Coiner had already reached a milestone. It successfully opened two branches – one in Kwun Tong and one in Wanchai – with more than 10,000 people attending its tutorial classes. Ng attributes Coiner’s achievements to her colleagues.
“I’m so proud of them. My colleagues and I are close like family. We would openly discuss every issue in an equal way as I believe the best communication should be simple, direct, and fast,” she says. “Whenever we complete a tough project together, we feel the same satisfaction. That’s why we are still on the path to the highest goal together.”
Ng and Coiner didn’t achieve this success overnight, and she admits that “making mistakes” was her best teacher in which she learned quickly to move forward.
“One thing for sure is that we will learn from each experience. Therefore we grow and glow till now. My clients are my best friends and mentors at the same time. So we could exchange our knowledge and learn from each other. It’s a good opportunity for both of us to grow.”
Gender issues and stereotyping are no strangers in the financial world, and as such, they aren’t excluded from the crypto sector either. It is an area Ng hopes to improve. “Since most of the tutors or classmates in cryptocurrency courses are men, many women may not have the courage to ask questions – or even express their ideas in the class. Thus, one of the missions of Coiner is to make women feel confident and comfortable in class,” she said.
Technology and internet development helps to overcome gender stereotypes. For example, Ng explains, “It is no longer possible to hinder people from obtaining information by gender or age. Whether it is an 18-year-old student or a 60-year-old mother-in-law, they both are capable of participating.”
Ng believes that knowledge should be free, and that’s how Coiner became influential in the crypto world. “I think Coiner’s greatest influence is the atmosphere of the entire cryptocurrency field because, in the past, cryptocurrency courses were costly, but since I launched a free cryptocurrency course, advanced lectures, and metaverse lectures, things began to change. As a result, more and more similar courses have appeared too. But it’s okay as I always believe that knowledge should be free, and quite a few clients shared with me that our content is even more complete and detailed than many [others on the market].”
The founder is looking forward to the next step for both herself and her company. “We will open the biggest NFT Art Gallery in Hong Kong this year. And that’s just the first step of Coiner’s plan. For a bigger vision, I would like to gather a group of passionate crypto lovers to build a strong crypto community and reward the members in the dimensions of art, media, journalism, and charity.”
For herself, Ng aims to elevate life to another level, as the pursuit of material things is only a tiny part of it.
“Recently, I have been studying some philosophy about the mind,” she says. “To my surprise, philosophy has shed some light on life development and personal traits to make my worldview more rational and comprehensive. And my attitude towards life is affected by philosophy as well. You can learn more about yourself. The more you understand yourself, the more you can redefine yourself. Ultimately you may bring a good influence to everyone around you as well! That’s the power of philosophy.”
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Photographer / Karl Lam
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