Asia’s largest crypto summit heads to Hong Kong

Amid global shift

More than 15,000 participants are expected in Hong Kong next week as the city prepares to host Bitcoin Asia 2025, a major global cryptocurrency event. The two-day summit, which runs from August 28 to 29, underscores Asia’s rising influence in the global digital currency ecosystem.

Organised by BTC Media, Bitcoin Asia 2025 is set to become the second-largest Bitcoin-focused gathering worldwide, with over 200 speakers scheduled to address current issues surrounding Bitcoin adoption, digital regulation, and the evolving economic landscape. The event comes as the region deepens its role in shaping cryptocurrency policy and investment trends.

Middle East News 247 is a Media Partner of Bitcoin Asia 2025.

According to data from Chainalysis, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 43 per cent of global cryptocurrency ownership in 2023, with Southeast Asia leading in grassroots adoption. Indonesia recorded digital asset transactions exceeding US$30 billion last year, while markets such as Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines continue to see growing activity from retail users.

Regional growth

The expansion of retail investment has, in turn, drawn increased institutional interest. Crypto asset management revenue in Asia-Pacific reached US$300.4 million last year and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4 per cent, reaching US$1.46 billion by 2030, according to Fortune Business Insights.

Hong Kong has positioned itself at the centre of this momentum. It is among the first jurisdictions in Asia to allow spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs), following regulatory approval in April 2024. That move has encouraged capital inflows from institutional investors looking to gain regulated exposure to digital assets.

This year, Hong Kong passed the Stablecoins Ordinance, adding another layer to its evolving regulatory framework. The legislation aims to standardise oversight for issuers of fiat-referenced digital currencies and boost transparency. The city’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) are continuing to support pilot programmes involving blockchain infrastructure and Web3 innovation.

While the UAE and Gulf states are not participating directly in Bitcoin Asia 2025, the Middle East is observing the developments closely. Dubai, which launched its Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in 2022, has positioned itself as a parallel regulatory hub.

Analysts note that policy experimentation in Hong Kong could influence digital asset frameworks across the Gulf in the coming years, especially as capital markets in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh open up to new asset classes.

Policy focus

Speakers at Bitcoin Asia 2025 include key figures in the crypto industry, such as Adam Back of Blockstream, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) of Binance, and Balaji Srinivasan of Network School. The agenda features discussions on regulatory clarity, financial infrastructure, and the integration of Bitcoin into national economic strategies.

David Bailey, chief executive of BTC Inc., said: “Bitcoin Asia 2025 will be a 15,000-person event — a historic milestone for Bitcoin in Asia. The energy, adoption, and innovation happening here make Hong Kong the perfect stage.”

Brandon Green, Chief of Staff at BTC Inc., added: “While the US has hastened its claim to become the centre of the Bitcoin industry today, all eyes are now turning to Bitcoin Asia to see the region’s response. From massive capital market announcements to surging institutional participation, Asia is signalling that it’s ready to enter the Bitcoin space race in a major way. And with the looming possibility that China could reverse its ban, the stakes have never been higher.”

Though China’s 2021 ban on cryptocurrency trading remains in place, speculation continues over whether Beijing may soften its stance amid increasing regional adoption. A policy reversal could have significant implications for global cryptocurrency flows and decentralised finance markets.

Global spotlight

Bitcoin Asia 2025’s emphasis on international cooperation, regulation, and economic transformation places it at the forefront of discussions around how blockchain technology fits into broader macroeconomic strategies.

With rapid digital infrastructure expansion in Africa and the Middle East, industry observers believe that lessons drawn from Asia’s regulatory and investment models could be replicated in emerging markets. The World Bank projects that digital economies in sub-Saharan Africa will grow at a rate of 8 per cent annually through 2030, driven in part by mobile-based financial services.

Bitcoin Asia 2025 is expected to be closely watched not only by crypto traders and developers but also by financial regulators and central banks seeking models for digital currency integration. In a fragmented global landscape, Hong Kong is making a renewed bid to become the leading node for virtual asset dialogue.

Image: Hong Kong is among the first jurisdictions in Asia to allow spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs), following regulatory approval in April 2024. Credit: Komod Ayal

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