With stablecoin market capitalisation surpassing $300 billion, and clear crypto regulatory frameworks accelerating institutional adoption, crypto is growing up and YAP Global is following suit. Otto Jacobsson, who has served as CFO of the firm since 2020, is stepping up as CEO to expand the business globally. Meanwhile, Samantha Yap, our Founder, will focus on the long-term vision and strategic direction of YAP Global.
“The crypto industry is maturing, with regulators, banks and policymakers increasingly engaging with digital assets. I’m honoured to step into the role of CEO of YAP Global, Samantha has built an exceptional team focused on telling stories and building trust in this growing industry. Now, crypto-native communities are evolving into major fintech, institutional, and capital markets players and we are excited to support them on that journey,” says Otto Jacobsson.
During his tenure as CFO, Otto has overseen financial operations, supported international team expansion, and led business development during a period of significant growth. With a background in investment banking and corporate finance at Deutsche Bank and PwC, Otto has played a central role in strengthening YAP Global’s operational foundations and advisory capabilities. As CEO, Otto will focus on three core pillars that will guide how the agency grows, operates and delivers value:
Professionalisation: Crypto has entered a more regulated and institutionally recognised phase. This means levelling up advisory capabilities, processes, analytical depth, clarity and precision of the narratives.
Regionalisation: The next wave of communications growth in crypto will be driven by regions. To deliver on this, we will continue building three strong teams led by Debra Nita Ravindran, Associate Director – Head of Growth and Americas Team Lead; Chris Fay, Associate Director – Head of PR and Communications and EMEA Team Lead; Sean Baker, Account Director – APAC Team Lead; and Hannah Tamara Lee, Chief of Staff.
Diversification: As the industry evolves, YAP Global must evolve with it by expanding intelligently into marketing and content services, events and campaigns.
“Crypto is growing up, and so is our agency,” said Samantha Yap. “As digital assets gain mainstream adoption and regulatory clarity, the industry is entering a new phase where strategic storytelling and deep expertise are more important than ever. With Otto leading YAP Global, we’re ready to expand regionally and globally, delivering creative, high-impact campaigns that help our clients navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. We aim to continue to be the go-to PR firm for anything related to digital assets and crypto.”
Yap means “leaf” in Chinese, which reflects ideas of growth and evolution, and that’s what has shaped YAP Global from the beginning. Founded in 2018, YAP Global has grown from a founder-led boutique PR firm into a global communications partner with teams across London, New York, and Singapore, and a growing presence in the UAE. Under Samantha’s guidance, the agency has worked with leading names in the industry, including Coinbase, a US-listed crypto exchange; Lido, a leading staking protocol; NEAR Foundation, a Layer 1 blockchain; and Ethereum Name Service (ENS), a decentralised digital identity system. While also supporting major industry events such as ETHDenver, EthCC, Messari Mainnet, European Blockchain Convention, and Digital Assets Forum.
Throughout this journey, YAP Global’s focus has always been on long-term reputation building, not short-term noise and we believe that this next phase is about building deliberately, with a long-term view of what the industry needs next.
