Hong Kong isn’t crypto-mad yet—but Consensus chairman says the city could still shape Asia’s digital asset future

The gap between awareness and full understanding has shaped how digital assets are perceived. In Hong Kong, where investing is part of many individuals’ everyday culture, they are often viewed as an investment class. 

“For a lot of people here, there’s always going to be an element of the use case that comes down to: how do I take my resources and invest them?” Lau says. “This particular category of digital assets is an interesting one to introduce to people who are already investing.” 

Payment applications, such as remittances, may not yet feel essential in Hong Kong, given other available options that have proven efficient. But in markets without strong legacy systems, like the Philippines, they have been used to expand financial access. 

Lau likens it to the early days of mobile phones. “People who had landlines at home, said ‘I’m not sure if I need a mobile phone.’ But in certain parts of the world where there was no landline, people just jumped straight to mobile phones right away.”

Over time, he believes, the same logic will apply as more products demonstrate clear, practical benefits. Adoption, he adds, rarely follows a straight line. “Technology is usually adopted in a bell curve manner,” he says. “Right now, what you’re seeing a lot of is the experimentation phase.”

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If adoption is the next challenge, trust is the one that precedes it. Volatility, scams and a lack of understanding continue to keep many potential users on the sidelines. For Lau, trust has to be built on two levels.

“Trust within the system is where the regulatory framework continues to play a major role,” he says. Rules, policies and education help create baseline confidence. But trust also depends on individual products and businesses delivering what they promise. “Is the product good? Is it actually delivering what it needs to do?”

This is also where in-person engagement still matters. In 2025, the inaugural Consensus Hong Kong drew more than 350 side events across the city, an ecosystem Lau sees as essential to accelerating understanding, partnerships and community. “When you bring people together, something special happens,” he says. 

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Consensus Hong Kong 2026 builds on that ambition. The event takes place from February 10 to 12. For Lau, the conference is not just about industry insiders, but about helping non-crypto-native audiences move beyond buzzwords to understanding what applications could benefit them. 

In the next five to ten years, Lau sees Hong Kong playing a defining role as blockchain continues to merge with traditional finance. “Hong Kong is a top financial hub in the world,” he says. With regulatory momentum, strong institutions and a growing talent pool, he believes the city is well-positioned to push this technology and industry forward. 

Now, meet the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow shaping Asia’s future through technology. 

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