Building the Borderless Asian Impact Highway: Why We Need Shared Infrastructure Now
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
This opinion piece, originally published on The Butter, features insights from Corey Lien, CEO of DOMI Earth, on the future of social impact in Asia. Following his recent keynote in Singapore, Corey explores how we can transition from fragmented grantmaking to a unified, borderless impact infrastructure.
In November, I had the opportunity to speak at the Global Impact Chapter in Singapore. Surrounded by the region’s most innovative impact leaders, one truth became crystal clear: while Asia is economically and digitally integrated, our impact capital remains fragmented by borders, inconsistent standards, and trust gaps.
Capital flows easily across Asia, but credible, verifiable impact does not.
The Problem with the Status Quo
Currently, Asia’s impact ecosystem operates in silos—country-by-country and project-by-project. Whether it’s maternal health in Indonesia or education in Vietnam, outcomes are measured and funded differently. This isn't just a measurement issue; it's a market design problem.
Introducing a Shared Impact Asset Class
At Common Good Marketplace (CGM), we believe the solution lies in Verified Impact Assets™ (VIAs). By transforming verified social outcomes into a standardized, tradable unit of value, we allow markets to do what they do best: scale solutions efficiently.
A Strategic Leap Forward
I am thrilled to highlight our strategic partnership with MYSC, one of South Korea’s premier impact investors. Together, we are building the infrastructure to bring Asian outcomes to a global market without losing local specificity. As Jeongtae Kim, CEO of MYSC, aptly put it: we are "building the infrastructure for an economy that rewards what truly matters: human and societal flourishing."
The Vision
Asia already has borderless trade and supply chains. It is time we had borderless impact. We are building a future where social outcomes are treated as a serious, investable asset class.
The "Asian Impact Commons" isn't a distant dream—we are building it today.
