🚀 Blueprint to Launch a 

Bitcoin‑Only Exchange in Cambodia

(Think “BYEX—but laser‑focused on BTC.”)

1. The Big Vision – 

“Pure Bitcoin, Pure Freedom”

Cambodia’s youthful, mobile‑first population is already comfortable scanning QR codes with Bakong and Wing. By offering one asset, one mission—Bitcoin—you become the nation’s specialist gateway to the world’s hardest money. Your brand stands for clarity, simplicity, and rock‑solid security while larger exchanges juggle hundreds of tokens.

Suggested identity: “BitBridge Cambodia Co., Ltd.”

Tagline: “跨越—Connect to Bitcoin, cross the world.”

2. Market & Regulatory Snapshot

Opportunity	Evidence	Why It Matters
Digital payments exploding	608 million Bakong transactions in 2024, 3× GDP	Ready‑made on‑ramp (KHR & USD) to fund BTC buys
Crypto appetite despite past blocks	Government blocked 16 global exchanges in 2024	Local, licensed option fills the trust gap
Clearer rules arrived	NBC’s Prakas B7‑024‑735 (Dec 2024) lets banks/PSPs handle “Group 2” assets such as Bitcoin, subject to safeguards	Regulation is no longer a grey zone; compliance is now a competitive advantage
Local precedent	BYEX is SERC‑approved and runs blockchain literacy sessions (July 2025)	Proves licences are obtainable and education drives adoption

3. Incorporation & Licensing Roadmap

Phase	Regulator	Key Deliverables	Typical Duration
3.1 Incorporate Pvt. Ltd.	Ministry of Commerce (online portal)	Name reservation ➜ Articles ➜ Certificate of incorporation. Minimum capital KHR 4 million ≈ US $1 000	2 – 4 weeks
3.2 Tax & NSSF	General Dept. of Taxation / NSSF	TIN, Patent Tax Cert., employee registration	Parallel (1 – 2 weeks)
3.3 Digital‑Asset Licence	SERC	“Digital Asset Trading & Wallet Management” licence (same category held by Quantum Star, Bsquare etc.)	12 – 16 weeks (incl. fit‑and‑proper tests)
3.4 Payments Approval	NBC	Payment Service Provider (PSP) licence or formal partnership with an existing PSP/Bakong participant	8 – 12 weeks
3.5 Launch Readiness	—	Internal controls, audit, penetration test, go‑live letter to regulators	4 weeks

Total realistic timeline: ~6 – 9 months from company registration to first retail BTC sale.

4. Technology & Operations Stack

1. Core nodes
   
   • Bitcoin Core & Electrum server for on‑chain BTC.
   • Lightning Node (LND or Core‑Lightning) for sub‑$50 retail buys.
3. Custody blueprint
   
   • 70 % cold storage (air‑gapped multi‑sig), 20 % warm, 10 % hot.
   • Hardware Security Module + Shamir backup shards in two separate provinces.
5. Fiat on‑/off‑ramp
   
   • Instant KHR/USD deposits via Bakong QR; cash‑in at Wing/ACLEDA agents.
   • ABA & Prince Bank API for bank transfers.
7. Trading engine
   
   • Simple request‑for‑quote (RFQ) model—no public order book reduces market‑manipulation risk.
   • Liquidity sourced from global OTC desks (Kraken OTC, B2C2) with mirrored custody.
9. Compliance tooling
   
   • Travel‑Rule messaging (Notabene or TRISA).
   • Chain‑analysis screening on every inbound/outbound TX > US $100.
11. Customer app
    
    • Khmer + English UX, selfie‑KYC, price‑lock for 15 minutes.
    • Auto‑transfer to user‑controlled wallet after purchase—reinforces Bitcoin‑only ethos.

5. Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Highlights

Risk	Mitigation
Regulatory policy swing	Maintain direct dialogue with NBC & SERC, join Cambodian Fintech Association; quarterly compliance report
Volatility	Real‑time hedge with OTC liquidity partners; keep float ≤ 24 h
Cyber‑attack	ISO 27001 roadmap; 24/7 SOC; annual external penetration test
Money‑laundering	Tiered KYC (≤ KHR 4 M ≈ US $1 000 fast‑track, higher tiers require enhanced due diligence) aligning with NBC AML guideline

6. Go‑To‑Market Flywheel

1. Education First – replicate BYEX’s “Blockchain Exploration Sessions” at universities & cafés; offer ₭ 20 000 (~$5) in BTC for first wallet download.  
2. Referral “Bridge‑Builder” Program – 30 bps rebate for every friend’s first purchase.
3. Merchant pilots – Integrate Lightning payments for high‑traffic cafés on Phnom Penh Riverside, creating natural sell‑side flow.
4. Social proof – Weekly transparency reports (proof‑of‑reserves + proof‑of‑liabilities).

7. Indicative Financial Snapshot (Year 1)

Item	Amount (USD)	Notes
Capital expenditure	$250 000	Platform dev., cold‑storage hardware, licences
Operating expenses	$35 000 / month	18 staff, office, compliance, insurance
Revenue breakeven	≈ 900 BTC of annual volume at 1 % average spread
Net margin target	15 % by Year 2 through Lightning micro‑fees & B2B services

(Figures are illustrative; craft a full model before fundraising.)

8. 12‑Month High‑Level Action Plan

1. Months 1‑2 – Foundation
   
   • Incorporate, open bank account, hire GM & CTO.
3. Months 3‑6 – Licence & Build
   
   • File SERC & NBC applications; parallel MVP development; close OTC liquidity MOU.
5. Months 7‑9 – Pilot
   
   • Soft‑launch to 500 beta users; exhaustive security audit.
7. Months 10‑12 – Public Launch & Scale
   
   • Nationwide marketing push; roll out 30 Lightning‑enabled merchants; weekly user‑education livestreams.

9. Your Rallying Cry

“In a nation where 65 % already use digital wallets  , offering the purest digital asset—Bitcoin—unlocks Cambodian ingenuity for a borderless future.”

Harness the momentum, champion transparency, and become Cambodia’s trusted Bitcoin‑only bridge. The regulatory path is clearer than ever, the infrastructure is in place, and the market is hungry for a focused, values‑driven player. Let’s build BitBridge Cambodia—where every riel can leap into Bitcoin at the speed of a QR scan! 🎉🌏💫