Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John KC Lee, reaffirmed the city's commitment to becoming a global hub for digital asset innovation during his opening remarks at the Consensus Hong Kong 2026 conference. Lee emphasized that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government is actively building a regulatory framework to foster a steady and sustainable Web3 ecosystem.
He highlighted Hong Kong's unique position under the 'one country, two systems' principle, which allows it to leverage advantages from both China and global financial markets. Lee pointed to the region's robust financial regulatory system, deep liquidity, and world-class investor protection as key strengths.
A significant announcement was the progress on stablecoin regulation. Lee stated that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is close to issuing licenses for stablecoin issuers, with the first licenses potentially being granted within the next month. Furthermore, he noted that the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) is working to enhance liquidity in the virtual asset market to support growth in this sector.
In a related development, leading global crypto exchange KuCoin announced its participation in the same conference. The platform will join a panel titled "Turning Intelligence Into Action" to discuss translating market data, on-chain signals, and AI capabilities into practical safeguards and stronger governance. KuCoin's Vice President and Head of Risk Control, Win Wong, will represent the exchange in these discussions focused on user protection and market resilience.
