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Consensus building: crypto conference arrives in Hong Kong in test for city and CoinDesk

Hong Kong is leaning into its role in traditional finance as it courts Web3 enthusiasts to the city for CoinDesk’s Consensus Hong Kong

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The arrival of one of the biggest Web3 industry events in Hong Kong is testing the city’s resolve in becoming a virtual asset hub, while the organisers look to expand their footprint in Asia.

Consensus Hong Kong, a three-day cryptocurrency- and blockchain-focused event that kicks off on Tuesday, is leaning heavily into the city’s reputation as a traditional financial hub.

“Naturally, we know our strength, and that is capital markets,” said King Leung, global head of financial services, fintech and sustainability at InvestHK.

Here are some of the highlights:

The conference’s opening keynote (Feb. 19) will be given by Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-Po, and will be followed by a panel discussion on bitcoin’s potential to be the basis of a new financial system with Bitcoin OG and Blockstream CEO Adam Back, JAN3 CEO Samson Mow and Babylon co-founder David Tse.

Then Julia Leung, the head of Hong Kong’s primary financial regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission, details the territory’s regulatory priorities.

Yat Siu, the co-founder and chairman of Web3 giant Animoca Brands will discuss the fight for digital property rights, while the always colorful founder of TRON, Justin Sun, is slated to talk about his token’s meteoric rise.

Meanwhile, Solana Foundation president Lily Liu will discuss the blockchain’s future, and is also participating in a panel with Robinhood head of crypto Johann Kerbrat on why retail investors are moving on-chain. SUI founder Evan Cheng will explain how his blockchain is adapting to institutional needs. And, rounding out the first day, Binance CEO Richard Teng will sit down with Consensus Hong Kong chairman Michael Lau.

On Thursday, regulators in Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia will provide an outlook on regulation in the region. Stacks’ CEO Muneeb Ali headlines what should be a spirited discussion on the renaissance in Bitcoin Layer 2s that also includes Lombard Finance co-founder Jacob Phillips and early CoreDAO contributor Rich Rines. And Eric Anziani, the president of Singapore-based crypto exchange Crypto.com, which recently received a license to operate in the EU, gives a fireside chat on his company’s ambitious global plans.

Also Thursday, Memeland CEO and co-founder Ray Chan sits down with CoinDesk’s Sam Ewen to talk about the memification of finance. And, on the Emerging Tech stage, we have the Decentralized AI summit, featuring panels with Mark Rydon (Aethir), Paul Veradittakit (Pantera), Gary Liu (Terminal 3) and many others.

Apart from the formal programming, there are also a host of other events offering the chance to network and compete. From Wednesday to Thursday, the conference will see hundreds of developers from Asia and beyond vying for prizes and potential investments from top VC firms in the EasyA Hackathon. And be sure to catch the live onstage pitching battle between many of the world’s most promising early-stage Web3 companies in the CoinDesk Hong Kong Pitchfest 2025, which runs all day Thursday.

Finally, for those with a sporting bent, the eighth installment of the popular Crypto Fight Night boxing exhibition will be held on Thursday night at the Grand Hyatt next to the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, headlined by a bout between crypto influencers Bitlord and Korean Jew.

It all promises to be an invigorating conference at a special time, set in one of the most dynamic cities in Asia.

For the full agenda, please see here. Passes are still available for sale here.