Welcome!

Pasi Koistinen is a cybersecurity executive, author, and public speaker with over 25 years of experience securing digital infrastructures across startups, financial institutions, and global enterprises. Currently serving as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at one of Singapore’s leading cryptocurrency platforms, Pasi is at the forefront of building resilient security architectures in environments shaped by blockchain, machine learning, and digital finance.

He is a co-founder of cyber startups companies in offensive security testing and threat intelligence, red teaming, and advanced adversary simulation. Throughout his career, he has led cybersecurity teams and directed large-scale security operations, including the development of big data systems empowered by artificial intelligence and machine learning—long before "AI security" became a boardroom buzzword.

His technical and governance expertise is backed by a long list of credentials and certifications, including CISSP, CISM, CISA, CRISC, GCWN, GXPN and others. These certifications reflect his deep decades-long commitment to both offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines. His influence was further recognized when he received the ASEAN CSO30 Award in 2024, honoring his leadership in safeguarding critical digital ecosystems.

A strong believer in lifelong learning and the future of intelligent systems, Pasi holds an MBA in Security Management from Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Emerging Technology & Artificial Intelligence. His academic and practical work bridges the gap between cybersecurity operations and AI-enabled threat landscapes—an intersection that increasingly defines the next era of digital risk.

Beyond his executive and technical roles, Pasi is an active contributor to industry forums, international conferences, and professional communities, where he shares his insights on navigating AI-driven transformation and managing its security implications. He brings a rare combination of hands-on experience, strategic foresight, and technical depth to the conversation about securing tomorrow’s intelligent systems.

Pasi is also an established book author whose work explores the evolving challenges of digital security leadership, technical risk, and the impact of emerging technologies. His writing blends deep technical insight with practical guidance, making complex security topics accessible to professionals across disciplines.

MBA in Security Management

Master of Business Administration 2014
Laurea University, Finland

Doctorate Student in Emerging Technology & AI

Golden Gate University, San Francisco USA

CSO30 2024 Award Winner

ASEAN CSO30 Awarded by IDG

Book Author

Smiling Security, The Cyber Security Manager's Road to Success

Every business, large and small, is vulnerable to cyber attack. If your company isn't well protected, its systems may be compromised by sophisticated hackers with malicious intentions. Business owners, boards, CEOs, and cyber security managers must work together to combat this threat by putting effective security measures and organization in place. With Smiling Security, you can build one from the ground up in just ninety days.
These powerful strategies from internationally recognized experts Pasi Koistinen and Mikko Niemela will identify system weaknesses, catalyze change, and implement an ironclad security plan that works within an established corporate structure. Business leaders will discover what to look for when hiring a cyber security chief, while cyber security managers
You will learn to navigate a company's political complexities and to prevent catastrophes before they occur.

WTF! Where’s My Crypto?! Security of Cryptocurrencies

Think your crypto is safe? Think again.
In the unregulated, unforgiving world of digital currencies, losing everything is just one click away. WTF! Where’s My Crypto?! pulls back the curtain on the chaos, exposing how hackers, scammers, and even nation-states are targeting your crypto—and winning.
Written by veteran cybersecurity strategist Pasi Koistinen, this book is your essential guide to surviving the darker side of blockchain technology. Through real-world case studies, insider insights, and battle-tested defense strategies, you'll learn:

  • Why most crypto users are dangerously exposed

  • How phishing, SIM swaps, and malware drain wallets daily

  • What DeFi exploits, rug pulls, and fake tokens really look like

  • The role of governments, cybercrime syndicates, and insider threats

  • How to build personal and institutional-grade crypto security

Whether you’re a curious beginner or an institutional investor, WTF! Where’s My Crypto?! gives you the tools to protect what’s yours—and see through the hype before it costs you everything. Read it before your crypto disappears.

Certifications & Standards

CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor
CISM - Certified Information Security Manager
CRISC - Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
CISSP - Certified Information Security & Systems Professional
GCWN - GIAC certified windows security administrator
GXPN - GIAC certified exploit researcher and penetration tester
ISO27001 Lead Auditor - 24 years in standards implementation
PCI DSS - Past Qualified Security Assessor
MAS TRM - Financial industry regulation experience in Singapore
SOC2 - Experienced in leading IT transformations and certifications for service organizations
Cloud security - multi certified in AWS and GCP clouds & K8S security

Associations & Community work

Singapore Fintech Association Cyber Risk Committee member https://singaporefintech.org/cyber-risk/
ISACA - Singapore Chapter member
ISC2 - Member Advisor to Silverskin Information Security www.silverskin.com

Speaking & Publications

The Web3 Watchdogs Podcast ep. #29: Securing Exchanges Post-Bybit Hack. Youtube Spotify Apple Podcast

Leading security beyond tech, SquareX podcast, April 2025

GITEX Asia 2025. Speaker. april 23rd 2025

Corinium. CISO FSI Singapore 2025. Speaker. April 22nd 2025

The Crypto Conundrum: Balancing Security, Regulation, and Trust. Corinium Intelligence. Jan 2025

Dicyfor. Security Summit, speaker. February 26 2025.

Singapore Fintech Association (SFA): From Risk to Resiliency. Mastering MAS TRM for Business Security. Masterclass trainer

CISO Singapore 2024. Securing online businesses from modern risks and threats. 21.8.2024

Procurecon, Big Ideas Keynote: How to safeguard your data through cybersecurity: Addressing threats, collaboration, and supplier engagement to ensure resilience and protect against supply chain disruptions. 12.7.2023.

TechXLR8Asia, Secure Cloud Adoption for Enterprise, panel May 30th 2024

CISO/DevOps Executive Roundtable Moderator, Oct 27th 2023

CDO/CIO Charting Digital Resilience: Data, Security, and Innovation in the Age of Transformation. Nov 21st 2023

Simulated Ransomware Panel. Tech week Singapore 2023. Oct 12th 2023

SFA - Navigating the regulatory landscape in Singapore, panelist. Sept 11th 2023.

Singapore Fintech Association & LexisNexis - Risk Ready 2023. Aug 23th 2023.

CISO Singapore Conference speaker. Aug 23th 2023.

Coinhako’s CISO talks integrating cybersecurity management and awareness into business. July, 2023

Coinhako is ISO27000 certified for better security and peace of mind. February 2023

Speaker and panelist at AsiatechXSG (ATXSG) conferences. Biography. 2022-2023

Cyber Risk leaders Episode 332 – Cybersecurity in the crypto world. July 24, 2022

Cryptocurrencies, DeFi Hacks & the Future of the Crypto Market, July 20, 2022

ESET Speakeasy podcast - Cybersecurity challenges according to crypto exchange CISO. August 2022.

Hybrid Workers Face Higher Risk of Becoming Victims of Cybercrime. August 18, 2022

NewsBTC - CISO Pasi Koistinen on Cryptomarkets, Cybercrime and His Role in Coinhako. March 2021

Bitcoinist - An Interview with Coinhako’s CISO Pasi Koistinen. February 2021

Book author of Smiling Security: The Cybersecurity Manager's Road to Success. November 2020

TechInAsia - Cybersecurity expert shares 5 hacking techniques and how to prevent them. October 2020

Cyber Exposure risks of the dark web. June 19, 2019

Main evening news in Finland, Hospitals and power plants are not safe from cyber attacks. January 2015

MBA Thesis on Security Model for Agile Software Development. 2013.

Interested? Let’s get in touch.