Hong Kong, May 29, 2024 — Against the backdrop of Asia's financial markets increasingly becoming a global focal point, the Asia Investor Summit jointly hosted by Solowin Holdings and Sequire concluded successfully at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Hong Kong. The summit attracted financial industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and regulatory representatives from around the globe to delve into the development trends of Asia's financial markets and the innovative applications of financial technology.
The summit kicked off with opening remarks from Mr. Chris Miglino, CEO and Founder of SRAX, and Mr. Thomas Tam, CEO of Solowin Holdings. In his opening remarks, Mr. Thomas Tam warmly welcomed all attendees and expressed gratitude to Mr. Chris Miglino and Sequire for their support in organizing the summit.
Following the opening, Mr. Joseph H. L. Chan, JP, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, delivered an important speech. Mr. Chan emphasized Hong Kong's position as a leading international financial center in Asia and thanked the organizers for providing a platform for financial industry professionals and experts to exchange ideas and shape the future of financial services. He elaborated on Hong Kong's leading position in various sectors of the financial services industry, mentioning its approximately 1000 fintech companies, which saw a 25% growth last year. He also mentioned the Hong Kong government's support for financial innovation, including the issuance of licenses for virtual banks and virtual insurers, as well as the embracement of digital assets.
Market strategist and co-founder of Market Rebellion, Jon Najarian, then provided profound insights into current financial market trends and discussed the importance of diversified investment strategies. Using examples like JPM, he illustrated the potential advantages of options trading over traditional stock investments and analyzed the unique value of option strategies in risk management and return potential.
After the keynote speech, a panel discussion on the trend of Asian companies listing on stock exchanges in Hong Kong and the United States garnered widespread attention from attendees. Moderated by Mr. Chris Miglino, the discussion featured panelists including Mr. Fred Ting, Director of Solomon JFZ (Asia) Holding Limited, Mr. Gordon McBean, Chairman and CEO of Cambria Capital, LLC, Mr. Joel Vanderhoof, President of Cambria Capital, LLC, and Mr. Kevin (Qixiang) Sun, Partner at Bevilacqua PLLC. They explored the motivations of Asian companies seeking listings, regulatory considerations, and the potential impacts on investors and companies, collectively discussing how this trend is reshaping international capital markets.
Mr. Fred Ting elaborated on the high net income requirements and three-year operating record standards for listing in Hong Kong, noting that the process typically takes about a year from submission to listing. Mr. Gordon McBean provided insights into ongoing requirements, including regular reporting to the SEC, earnings releases, investor communications, and compliance with continued listing rules and corporate governance. Mr. Joel Vanderhoof discussed capital-raising options for listed companies, including institutional financing, follow-on public offerings, PIPEs, registered direct offerings, ATMs, and debt, as well as retail investor/crowdfunding financing. Mr. Kevin (Qixiang) Sun discussed listing standards in the United States, emphasizing that meeting one of three standards is sufficient for listing, and outlined key stakeholders and timelines involved in the listing process.
During the segment on new financial solutions, Mr. Gordon McBean, CEO of Cambria Capital, showcased the latest developments in financial technology to attendees. He detailed Cambria Capital's innovative achievements in the fintech field and how these advancements are helping businesses and investors adapt to evolving market environments.
Subsequently, a second panel discussion moderated by Mr. Poseidon Ho, Founding Partner of Outliers Fund IV (under DNA Fund), on the theme "The Future of Asian Financial Technology and Related Regulatory Compliance and Governance" took place. Panelists included Ms. Clara Chiu, CEO of QREG Advisory and former Head of Fintech and Licensing at the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Mr. CG Zhou, CEO of CPIC Investment Management (H.K.) Company Ltd, Mr. Gary Tiu, Executive Director and Head of Regulatory Affairs at OSL Group, and Mr. Marco Lim, Managing Partner at MaiCapital. They shared insights on fintech innovation, regulatory challenges, and industry best practices.
Mr. CG Zhou explained the interest of traditional financial institutions in the crypto space and discussed how fintech solutions are helping small and medium-sized enterprises tackle financial challenges. Ms. Clara Chiu provided professional advice on how fintech companies can navigate complex regulatory environments and discussed how Asian regulatory bodies are coordinating regulatory approaches to foster cross-border cooperation and innovation in fintech. Mr. Gary Tiu focused on how regulatory technology is changing the financial industry and highlighted regulatory technology innovations that fintech companies should focus on. Mr. Marco Lim shared his views on the challenges and opportunities of integrating blockchain technology into mainstream financial services and how traditional financial institutions can collaborate with fintech companies to stay competitive.
In the final stage of the summit, Mr. Brock Pierce, Chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation, delivered the closing keynote speech, sharing his insights on the latest trends in the cryptocurrency market and discussing emerging opportunities, regulatory landscapes, and the future of digital currencies and blockchain innovation.
As the summit drew to a close, Mr. Thomas Tam took the stage for the closing remarks, expressing gratitude to all participants for their contributions and enthusiastic participation, bringing a fulfilling conclusion to a day of in-depth exchanges.
The successful hosting of the summit not only provided a platform for attendees to gain insights into the development of Asia's financial markets and fintech, but also brought new thinking and inspiration to the entire financial industry. Solowin Holdings looks forward to reuniting with all participants in future events to jointly promote the prosperity and development of Asia and global financial markets.
*The entire summit was captured and is available for viewing in the livestream playback. You can access the recording here.