Key Points
Greater regulatory clarity: The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) approved cryptocurrency derivatives and margin trading, providing more options for professional investors and further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a global crypto financial center.
Institutional entry is accelerating: Hong Kong has issued 9 digital asset trading platform licenses, and more licenses are under review, indicating that traditional financial institutions are accelerating their entry into the crypto market.
AI empowers blockchain: Artificial intelligence is improving the security and execution efficiency of smart contracts, promoting the development of the Web3 ecosystem, and promoting the implementation of more decentralized applications.
DePIN and asset tokenization reshape the financial market: Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) and asset tokenization are changing the investment landscape, enabling physical assets to enter the blockchain more easily and improving market liquidity.
In an era of rapid development of blockchain, Web3 and digital assets, Consensus Hong Kong 2025 set a record as CoinDesk’s flagship conference expanded to Asia for the first time. More than 5,000 attendees from the fields of finance, technology, entrepreneurship and public policy gathered in Hong Kong, an international financial center, to witness a series of groundbreaking announcements, exchange ideas with industry experts, and discuss the future trends of decentralized technology.
As the Hong Kong government actively promotes Web3 and strives to become the Asian cryptocurrency and digital asset center, this conference covers innovative regulatory policies, the accelerated entry of institutional funds into the market, and the deep integration of AI and blockchain. Next, we will analyze this industry event that affects the global crypto market in depth according to the daily highlights.
Table of contents
Why Asia? Hong Kong’s Web3 Layout
Hong Kong’s Crypto Industry Advances
Government and Institutional Participation
Day 1: Policy, Bitcoin, and the Future of Web3
Financial Secretary Paul Chans opening speech
New progress in the supervision of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)
Bitcoin’s role in the global financial system
Surrounding activities and exchanges
Rolling Stone China-HK VIP Party Powered by XT.COM
OKX Web3 Night
Day 2: DePIN, Web3 growth and the Lightning payment revolution
Keynote speeches and industry discussions
Richard Teng, CEO of Binance: Digital assets are the currency of the future
Paul Chan: Stablecoin Regulation and Financial Innovation
Emerging technologies: decentralized identity and cross-chain applications
Developer Session: TRON T3 FCU – Global Adoption and Scalability Challenges
Surrounding activities and exchanges
Lightning Connect: A revolution in global payments
Day 3: Memecoin, AI and the asset token economy
The DePIN Revolution: Connecting the Physical and Digital Worlds
Emerging Technology Stage: In AI We Trust?
Focus Stage: From Custody to Liquidity - How Asset Tokenization Changes the Financial Market
Major announcements and industry impact
Five highlights
Regulatory policy expansion
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has approved cryptocurrency derivatives and margin lending, providing more financial options for professional investors and further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a global cryptocurrency hub.
Institutional and Web3 adoption accelerates
Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced nine digital asset trading platform licenses, with more licenses under review. In addition, the regulatory framework for DeFi and stablecoins is also constantly improving, promoting the institutionalization of the Web3 economy.
Memecoin and Web3 Culture
Memecoins have evolved from online jokes to community-driven digital economies, and platforms such as Memeland are combining NFTs, social networks, and gamified interactions to drive innovation in Web3 culture.
AI and blockchain converge
AI is enhancing blockchain security, optimizing smart contracts, and accelerating the development of decentralized governance. The conference also sparked important discussions on the risks and trust mechanisms of AI automation.
DePIN and asset tokenization reshape the financial market. The decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) connects data, infrastructure, and real resources more closely, while asset tokenization enables traditional financial assets to be transformed into highly liquid digital investment tools on the blockchain.
Laying the foundation: Why Asia? Why now?
Hong Kong is vigorously promoting the development of digital assets at a time when traditional financial institutions and technology entrepreneurs are surging their interest in the Web3 industry. With its advantageous geographical location, sound legal framework and status as an international financial center, Hong Kong has quickly emerged as an important hub for blockchain innovation.
This background makes Consensus Hong Kong 2025 an annual event that cannot be missed, attracting policymakers, corporate executives, venture capital firms and developers from around the world to discuss the future development direction of Web3.
“As the Web3 ecosystem continues to evolve, Hong Kong will maintain a stable, open and vibrant digital asset market.” — Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong
Day 1: Policy, Bitcoin, and the Future of Web3
Key Conference Highlights
Financial Secretary Paul Chans opening speech
Paul Chan kicked off Consensus Hong Kong 2025 with a dynamic speech, reiterating Hong Kongs goal to become a global leader in the cryptocurrency and Web3 industries. He stressed that the government is actively simplifying the cryptocurrency licensing system and expanding public funding for blockchain research and development.
“We are investing heavily in infrastructure and talent development.” — Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong
Regulatory policy progress
Fung-yee Leung, CEO of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), shared Hong Kongs latest cryptocurrency regulatory policy at the conference. She said the SFC plans to approve the trading of cryptocurrency derivatives and allow specific investors to use margin loans, opening up more financial tools for professional investors.
“We are considering opening up derivatives trading for professional investors and allowing margin lending for certain clients.” — Fung-yee Leung, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission
Bitcoin and the Global Financial System
A high-level discussion panel consisting of Blockstream CEO Adam Back, JA N3 CEO Samson Mow and Babylon co-founder David Tse explored the potential of Bitcoin as a global reserve asset and conducted in-depth analysis on how institutional investors can adopt Bitcoin and develop decentralized financial (DeFi) solutions based on Bitcoin.
Image Credit: Bastille Post
Surrounding activities and social networks
Rolling Stone China-HK VIP Party Powered by XT.COM #BeyondTrade
What happens when music, culture and blockchain collide? The Rolling Stone China-HK VIP Party held at The Iron Fairies allowed participants to enjoy live music performances, exchange the latest Web3 application trends, and explore how blockchain is changing the entertainment industry in a high-level social setting.
Performance Lineup:
– MC Jin (Chinese rap legend)
– SHUZO (Japanese emerging electronic music artist)
This event is sponsored by XT.COM, marking the in-depth application of blockchain in the entertainment industry, especially the combination of NFT, music copyright and fan economy.
OKX Web3 Night
OKX Web3 Night is a high-end social event that provides an opportunity to have in-depth exchanges with OKX executives, top traders, investors, and blockchain developers. The event is held in a relaxed atmosphere, and participants can get a close look at OKXs latest technology developments, upcoming cooperation plans, and the development direction of the Web3 ecosystem.
Key highlights:
– Future Platform Updates: OKX shared its upcoming Web3 solutions.
– In-depth discussion on DeFi and NFT: OKX high-level analysis of how NFT and DeFi affect the Web3 ecosystem.
– High-level communication: face-to-face interaction with opinion leaders, investors and developers in the Web3 field.
Image Credit: OKX
Day 2: DePIN, Web3 growth and the Lightning payment revolution
Key Conference Highlights
Keynote: Binance CEO Richard Teng
In his keynote speech titled “Digital Assets: The Currency of the Future,” Richard Teng praised the growing presence of institutional investors in the crypto market and highlighted how Hong Kong’s increasingly clear regulatory framework is driving the inflow of large institutional funds.
Keynote Speech: Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan
Chan reiterated Hong Kongs firm commitment to digital assets, announcing that the government has issued 9 digital asset trading platform licenses and revealed that more license applications are under review, which will further promote Hong Kongs development in the Web3 field. He also said that Hong Kong is preparing to launch a stablecoin regulatory framework to support safer and more efficient digital payments worldwide.
“We recognise the potential of stablecoins in global transactions and Hong Kong is committed to fostering an environment conducive to such innovation.” — Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong
Image Credit: Consensus Hong Kong 2025
Money Reimagined Stage
Cryptocurrency derivatives and institutional investors
Financial analysts explore risk management strategies for cryptocurrency derivatives and analyze how traditional financial institutions can enter this market as regulation becomes clearer.
Image Credit: Consensus Hong Kong 2025
Builders Stage
TRON and T3FCU : Challenges of global adoption - the balance between decentralization, security and scalability
The technical discussion delved into TRON’s role in the global Web3 ecosystem and how T3FCU (a blockchain-based financial credit union) can find a balance between decentralization, security, and scalability to drive global financial innovation.
Image Credit: Consensus Hong Kong 2025
Surrounding activities and social networks
Lightning Connect: A revolution in global payments
Lightning Network is changing the global payment landscape. This special session was jointly organized by CKB Eco Fund, Breez and UTXO Stack to explore how to use the Lightning Network to improve the speed and scalability of Bitcoin transactions and achieve instant and low-cost global payments.
Highlights:
– Lightning Network Use Cases: How businesses around the world use Bitcoin for cross-border remittances, merchant payments, and micropayments.
– Technical integration: How developers can integrate Lightning Network into their own applications to achieve a seamless payment experience.
– Hands-on Demonstration: Attendees can experience the operation of Lightning Network applications and payment channels live.
Image Credit: tovarishch.bit
Day 3: Memecoin, AI and the asset token economy
Key Conference Highlights
How memecoins evolved from an internet joke to the digital economy of 2024
This discussion analyzes how memecoins have transformed from internet humor to digital assets with real utility and community cultural impact. Industry experts deeply analyze how community promotion, social media trends and speculative trading shape the growth path of memecoins. Key topics:
– How Memecoin evolved from a speculative asset to a blockchain project with governance mechanisms, staking capabilities, and DeFi integration.
– How community-driven and KOL marketing are the keys to the success of Memecoin.
– How Layer-2 scaling solutions can reduce transaction costs for memecoin, making it more sustainable.
Memes are not just memes: How Memeland reshapes Web3 community culture
A panel discussion hosted by the Memeland founding team to explore how NFT, Web3 social platforms, and gamification experiences can transform meme culture into a sustainable digital economy. Discussion highlights:
– How Memeland combines content creation with blockchain reward mechanism to provide users with a brand new experience.
– The power of decentralized narratives: How memecoins can build strong community consensus and transcend mere speculation.
– The future development of meme coins, NFTs and brand collaborations, and how Web3 culture can attract mainstream market attention.
The DePIN Revolution: How to connect the physical and digital worlds?
Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) is disrupting traditional industries and introducing blockchain technology into cloud computing, wireless networks and supply chain management. This discussion invited the leading DePIN project team to share the development trend of blockchain-driven infrastructure. Highlight topics:
– How blockchain infrastructure is transforming industries such as cloud computing, decentralized wireless networks (DeWi), and supply chain finance.
– How crypto-powered Internet of Things (IoT) solutions can facilitate smart cities and decentralized logistics systems.
– DePIN’s investment potential and scalability in the Web3 space.
Image Credit: Consensus Hong Kong 2025
Emerging Tech Stage
Can we trust AI? - Challenges and opportunities of integrating AI and blockchain
As artificial intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly used in blockchain and Web3, this discussion will explore the balance between automation, transparency and trust mechanisms. Main discussion topics:
– AI in blockchain security: Can it predict fraud and strengthen the security of smart contracts?
– Decentralization vs. the challenge of AI governance: How to avoid centralization of AI control and ensure fairness?
– The future of AI-generated assets: From on-chain content creation to AI-powered DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations), how will this technology change Web3?
Spotlight Stage
From custody to liquidity: How does asset tokenization change financial markets?
Tokenization is redefining the traditional financial market, making it easier to trade illiquid assets such as real estate, art, and private equity on the blockchain. This discussion will deeply analyze the potential and regulatory challenges of asset tokenization. Key topics:
– Fractional Ownership How can retail investors also participate in the high-value asset market?
– How can financial institutions embrace the tokenization trend and use blockchain technology to improve market transparency and efficiency?
– Regulators’ attitude towards asset tokenization: How to strike a balance between regulation and innovation?
Important announcements and industry impact
New regulatory developments
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has approved cryptocurrency derivatives and margin loans, further demonstrating that Hong Kong is accelerating its development into a global digital asset financial center. This policy change will not only attract Asian capital, but will also encourage global institutional investors to enter the market, providing more liquidity and stability for Hong Kongs cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Stablecoin Regulatory Roadmap
Stablecoins have become a key development direction for the Hong Kong government. Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po revealed at the meeting that regulators are studying the legal framework for the issuance of stablecoins, a move that will promote the use of stablecoins in retail payments and corporate settlements. Impact analysis:
– It will help attract more international financial institutions and stablecoin issuers to set up operations in Hong Kong.
– It may promote Hong Kong to launch a compliant stablecoin backed by legal tender, and enhance the global market’s confidence in Hong Kong’s Web3 ecosystem.
– Businesses and consumers can use stablecoins more conveniently for payments, cross-border transactions and financial management.
Institutional funds are accelerating their entry
As Hong Kong’s digital asset regulatory system becomes more and more complete, institutional investors’ interest in the crypto market has reached a new high. Several banks and hedge funds have revealed plans to set up crypto trading desks in Hong Kong, which will further enhance market liquidity and promote mainstream adoption of digital assets. Key developments:
– Web3-friendly regulatory environment increases the confidence of institutional investors, prompting them to invest more capital and resources into the market.
– The integration of traditional finance and DeFi (decentralized finance) will help build a more stable and transparent Web3 financial ecosystem.
– It is expected that the digital asset trading volume in Hong Kong will see significant growth in the next 12 months.
AI and blockchain converge
This conference focuses on how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the user experience of blockchain. From smart contract automation to data analysis optimization, the application of AI in the Web3 field is rapidly expanding. Technology trends in the next 12-18 months:
– AI smart trading and market prediction: More and more trading platforms will adopt AI-driven market analysis and trading strategies to improve trading efficiency and risk control capabilities.
– Automated smart contracts: AI will be used for vulnerability detection, fraud identification, and enhancing the security and stability of Web3 applications.
– AI empowers DeFi and DAO (decentralized autonomous organization), improving community governance efficiency and user experience through intelligent governance mechanisms.
Summary and Outlook
Consensus Hong Kong 2025 fully demonstrated Hong Kongs influence in the global digital asset industry and successfully promoted the exchange and cooperation of blockchain, Web3 and financial innovation between the East and the West. With the increasingly clear regulatory framework, institutional investors actively entering the market, and DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure) and AI technologies constantly reshaping the industry, Hong Kong has established itself as one of the global leaders in cryptocurrency and digital finance.
Future development trends: What’s next for Hong Kong?
Regulatory Evolution
– It is expected that stablecoin regulations will be further improved to provide the market with a clearer legal framework.
– Digital asset trading platform licenses will be further expanded to attract more international Web3 projects and institutional investors to enter the Hong Kong market.
Institutional Acceleration
– The nine trading platform licenses are just the starting point. It is expected that more banks, hedge funds and fintech companies will accelerate the layout of Web3 business.
– Hong Kong’s Web3 ecosystem will usher in a more mature financial infrastructure, enabling more institutional investors to participate in the digital asset market safely and compliantly.
AI DePIN Expansion
– AI empowers blockchain, and smart contracts will become more secure, efficient, and automatically optimized.
– DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure) will continue to develop, bringing disruptive changes to finance, logistics and data security.
Tokenization DeFi Growth
– Asset tokenization will bring new liquidity to traditional financial markets, and more physical assets (RWAs, Real World Assets) are expected to be introduced into the blockchain market.
– The integration of DeFi ecosystem and institutional investors will become closer, driving decentralized finance to further maturity.
Driven by financial institutions, large enterprises, innovative startups and regulators, Hong Kong is rapidly becoming a global model for Web3 finance. The discussions and innovations at this conference not only shape the future of Hong Kong, but also lay the foundation for the development of the global digital economy. The impact of the consensus Hong Kong 2025 will continue to expand, accelerating the popularization of global digital assets, regulatory improvement and industry integration, and ushering in a more interconnected digital economy era.
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