Hong Kong is looking to expand its Fintech sector and develop new financial products using blockchain and tokenization. This comes as it seeks to maintain its position as a global financial center amid changes in how markets operate.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the city would work with international investors and financial institutions to explore digital finance opportunities. These could include the development of next-generation financial products.
During the fifth Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in Hong Kong, Lee said:
“Blockchain and tokenization are rebuilding the core infrastructure of finance, while AI is reshaping productivity, labor markets, and competition across every sector, every economy.”
Hong Kong is home to more than 1,400 Fintech companies, including eight digital banks, four virtual insurers and 12 licensed virtual asset trading platforms.
The city ranked first globally for fintech offerings in the Global Financial Centers Index.
The government wants to use this existing ecosystem to attract investors looking to develop and test new financial products.
Lee specifically invited financial institutions to take advantage of Hong Kong’s Fintech capabilities as blockchain technology changes the way financial assets are created, traded, and managed.
One example of the city’s progress in digital finance is its issuance of nearly $2.6 billion equivalent in digital green bonds in September. Lee described the transaction as the world’s largest digital bond issuance.
The deal adds to Hong Kong’s established sustainable finance market. Green and sustainable debt issued in the city exceeded $76 billion last year, while green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong totaled about $38 billion, ranking it first in Asia for the eighth consecutive year, Lee said.
Beyond digital securities, Hong Kong is developing infrastructure for gold trading, with a central clearing and settlement system that began trial operations in July.
The system is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2027 and will connect with the Shanghai Gold Exchange through Delivery Connect. The city is also working towards alignment with London Bullion Market Association standards.
The initiative is intended to strengthen Hong Kong’s role in international commodity trading by providing price discovery, clearing and physical delivery services.
The fintech push comes as Hong Kong seeks to draw more capital into its financial services industry. The city raised about $50 billion through initial public offerings in the first nine months of 2026, ranking second globally after topping the league table last year.
Assets under management rose 20% in 2025 to a record $5.4 trillion, while net fund inflows nearly tripled to $270 billion, Lee said.
