Hong Kong’s Bitcoin Asia 2025 conference has shifted from a technology showcase to a political balancing act, with senior government officials withdrawing after organizers announced Eric Trump as a keynote speaker.
Eric Yip Chee-hang, executive director of Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission, and lawmaker Johnny Ng Kit-chong quietly withdrew from the August 28-29 conference after Eric Trump — son of US President Donald Trump — appeared on the speaker lineup. As per news reports, officials received clear guidance to avoid the event if Trump’s son participated, turning a technology gathering into an unexpected test of political loyalty.
The withdrawals expose Hong Kong’s precarious balancing act between courting international crypto businesses and navigating increasingly hostile US-China relations. Trump tariffs on Hong Kong exports currently stand at a staggering 145%, serving as a stark reminder of the economic warfare between superpowers. Officials fear any public association with the Trump family could signal cooperation with Washington during these sensitive times.
As per news reports, Lau Siu-kai, an adviser to a Beijing-linked think tank, confirmed the political calculations behind the decision. Officials sought to “avoid any public impression that Hong Kong was cooperating with or flattering Donald Trump,” he was quoted as saying by a media house. He acknowledged that intense China-US tensions make such appearances politically toxic.
Eric Trump will deliver two sessions titled ‘All in on Bitcoin’ and ‘Bitcoin Takes Over the World’ at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The co-founder of American Bitcoin and figure behind World Liberty Financial brings significant star power to the conference, but his family connections overshadow the technical discussions organizers intended to highlight.
Hong Kong’s tightrope walk between crypto innovation and geopolitical caution
According to industry observers, the political drama threatens to derail Hong Kong’s ambitious crypto agenda. The city recently implemented a revised Digital Assets Policy and has enacted a stablecoin ordinance on August 1, as part of a broader strategy to establish Hong Kong as a global digital asset hub. These regulatory advances position the territory to compete with Singapore and Dubai for cryptocurrency businesses fleeing restrictive jurisdictions.
Joshua Chu of the Hong Kong Web3 Association defended the officials’ decisions as personal choices rather than political pressure, but media reports claim that multiple sources have confirmed that political considerations dominated behind-the-scenes discussions. The episode highlights how geopolitical tensions increasingly influence technology policy decisions.
Clarence Shen, manager at the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong responsible for fintech policy, will replace Yip as the regulator’s representative at the conference, ensuring official participation. This compromise reflects Hong Kong’s determination to advance its crypto ambitions without triggering Beijing’s displeasure.
The conference controversy underscores Hong Kong’s challenging position as it pursues international investment while remaining politically aligned with Beijing. Officials must attract global crypto firms through progressive regulation while avoiding any appearance of favoring Washington during escalating trade disputes.
Bitcoin Asia 2025 continues as planned, though organizers have quietly reshuffled some sessions to accommodate the high-profile withdrawals. The event will ultimately reveal whether Hong Kong can successfully separate its technological ambitions from broader geopolitical tensions, or if political considerations will continue constraining its crypto aspirations.
