On June 16, 2022/2023 Digital Currency Forum and Hong Kong Digital Currency Academy (HKDCA) Launching Ceremony was officially opened in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

With the theme of “New Era, New Technology, New Vision”, the forum explored how to get out of the haze and restore the normal economic vitality under the impact of COVID-19 as soon as possible.  The forum brought major stakeholders together from different political and business sectors, academia and science and technology from more than 50 countries and regions around the world, and the participants expressed their views and brought new knowledge and inspiration to the forum.  It is worth mentioning that this is the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 that Hong Kong has successfully hosted a large gathering of over 800 participants at the Kerry Hotel in Hung Hom.

The research scholars from all walks of life, including the financial and academic sectors participated in the forum, are eager to stabilize Hong Kong’s financial status and also hope that Hong Kong will soon catch up with the improvement and development of blockchain and digital assets on the overall industry environment.  In addition, the forum hopes to create a communication hub between Hong Kong and the world through Hong Kong Digital Currency Academy (HKDCA), a non-profit organization that organizes different activities for exchange, so that different experts can promote the development of Hong Kong in this area, from lagging behind to catch up with the pace of the world trend.

Maria Eugenia Amaya, Executive Chairman of the World Digital Currency Forum (WDCF), the organizer of the forum, said that the WDCF provides a platform for government, business and financial leaders worldwide to share insights and exchange ideas on global challenges from an international perspective, providing a context for policymakers to devise innovative solutions and prepare for the future.  The Forum bears an important responsibility for our efforts to emerge from the haze of COVID-19.  On December 16, 2019, the first WDCF was luanched to set up the stage for opening an international dialogue on digital currency development.  Over the past few years, the WDCF has worked to enable global networks to continue to interact, share information, build alliances and find solutions through the use of technology.  This year WDCF has joined forces with HKDCA to continue to heat up and shine.

The forum also held the kick-off ceremony of Hong Kong Digital Currency Academy (HKDCA).  As a co-organizer of the Forum, Dr. Jason Chan, MH, JP, President of HKDCA, said at the forum that the HKDCA is tasked with the mission of promoting the digital economy, gathering the strength of all parties and rising to the challenge.  HKCDA was established in 2021 with the strong support of ACU Group.  With the merger of the WDCFM and the HKDCA team this year, a new impetus for the HKDCA has been further provided.  HKDCA has three major objectives: 1. to promote blockchain technology, law and business norms and set unified standards; 2. to invite experts from all walks of life to participate in the commercialization of the digital currency industry and gather strength; 3. to nurture young people and initiate creativity by organizing lectures and forum meetings to cultivate talents for the industry.  By setting up different committees, including financial technology, application research, international technology and standards development, talent training, legal and financial affairs, and marketing, HKDCA will study digital currency-related issues, and at the same time nurture a new generation of talents in the industry, so that the digital economy can develop sustainably and build a better digital future together by pooling individual wisdom.

The forum also invited Pierre Olivier Bakalag from Cameroon, West and Central Africa to give a speech in which Olivier shared his personal experience of making daily payments and cross-border transfers through digital currencies and blockchain during his two years living in Hong Kong, and expressed his intention to promote the development of blockchain and digital currencies in poor countries such as Africa through his role as a former professional soccer player and now the founder of Loyal Shield Inc Limited to promote the development of blockchain, digital currency in poor countries such as Africa.  In his speech, he said, “From Hong Kong, 10,890 kilometers away from Cameroon, I have seen the positive changes brought by block and digital currency, and I want to use my network and knowledge to promote this advanced financial technology.  I hope to connect with representatives from different countries where I humbly seek advice from experts and learn more so that blockchain and digital currency can be successfully established in Africa, perhaps starting with my home country of Cameroon, so that more people can also enjoy the benefits created by these advanced financial technologies as soon as possible. ”

As a co-organizer of the forum, ACU Group, David Schreiber, a leading figure in the blockchain industry, gave a detailed presentation on the advancements brought by blockchain technology and the ecosystem to create Asia Ecology Token (AET).  ACU Group is applying its blockchain technology to the finance-related ecosystem, which includes payments, exchange, digital banking and incubation of good blockchain projects.  AET and ACU have formed a strategic partnership to build a global digital financial system ecosystem.  AET is carrying out five major businesses to build AET ecosystem: AET membership reward program, digital asset trading business, digital currency banking, blockchain investment and incubation, and global blockchain education and consulting.  In addition, AET has launched a special community care development program, aiming to reach out to developing countries and change lives with technology.  The countries or regions selected for the program can directly realize the exchange of the country’s currency with AET for global circulation; with the help of AET network, they can directly establish their own electronic currency system; meanwhile, ACU Group will provide technical support and services for the country in blockchain, digital currency and other fields.

During the forum, the keynote speakers, including Mr. Larry Chiang, Mr. Roy Lam, Dr. Cheney Tsoi and Louis Loh, gave excellent speeches on the frontier hot topics such as digital transformation, ESG, digital economy and meta-universe, contributing new perspectives to the forum, which were well received by the audience.  Furthermore, Dr. Jason Chan, MH, JP, Dr. Cheney Tsoi, Mr. Alex Yuen, HKBA Chairman Mr. Tony Tong, Dr. Lo Wai Shun, Mr. Sam Lee, Mr. Victor Lee, Mr. Derek Leung and Mr. Philip Wong participated in the discussion on the topics of “Digital Economy Development and Opportunities in Hong Kong” and “The Future Development of Web3 Fintech Meta-Universe “, shared their unique insights and expressed their brilliant views.

In the future, with the support of the World Digital Currency Forum (WDCF), Hong Kong Digital Currency Academy (HKDCA) will continue to play a good role as a “connector” to build the hub for practitioners in the field of digital currency to learn and communicate with each other, bringing new business opportunities for the development of the financial industry in Hong Kong.  At the same time, by holding seminars from time to time, HKDCA will establish connection within and outside the industry, strengthen the cohesion of the industry, continuously promote the development of the industry, and also bring new hope to people suffering from COVID-19.