Kasa

About Kasa

Kasa Korea Co., Ltd., operating as Kasa, was established in April 2018 by co-founders Changwhan Yea and James Jaeyong Lee to democratize access to commercial real estate assets. CEO Changwhan Yea, a computer science major and former CTO at crowdfunding platform Tumblbug, was inspired to address wealth disparity in real estate after personally experiencing the high cost of living in San Francisco. This led to the core mission of Kasa: allowing anyone to invest in high-value commercial buildings with small amounts of capital.

The company operates a financial platform where it lists commercial properties for public investment. This model was recognized by South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) as an "Innovative Financial Service" in December 2019, granting it entry into the country's regulatory sandbox. This designation was crucial, allowing Kasa to launch its mobile app and operate within a compliant framework from the outset. The firm's first major milestone was the successful public offering of its inaugural property in December 2020.

Kasa's business model revolves around the securitization of real estate. The company identifies and acquires commercial properties, which are then placed into a trust managed by a partner financial institution like Hana Bank. This trust issues Digital Asset-Backed Securities (DABS), which represent fractional ownership in the property. These DABS are then offered to the public through the Kasa mobile app, with investment minimums as low as 5,000 KRW (approximately $5 USD). Investors generate returns in two primary ways: through quarterly dividends from the building's rental income and from capital gains realized when the property is eventually sold. The platform also facilitates a secondary market where investors can trade their DABS, similar to a stock exchange.

Kasa's structure differentiates it from traditional REITs by allowing investors to choose and invest in specific, individual buildings. The entire process is underpinned by blockchain technology to ensure the transparency and security of transaction records. After establishing a track record, Kasa was acquired by Daishin Financial Group in March 2023, integrating its services with Daishin Securities to further enhance credibility and operational capacity.