The Fintech Association of Hong Kong’s Blockchain Committee has launched its mapping of the city’s companies engaged in blockchain. The map was built by contribution of many of the organization’s members and lead by a working group of the committee.
In recent years, Hong Kong has emerged as an important international blockchain hub. In 2017, Charles d’Haussy, fintech lead of InvestHK at the time, stated that “blockchain is a very high priority for us […] what we are looking at building here in Hong Kong is an infrastructure for new businesses and existing businesses, to make sure the technology and innovations remain a key enabler for financial sector growth.”
Project from around Asia have set up their infrastructure in Hong Kong. Japanese Internet giant Line set up a US$10 million fund last year, BitMEX, a cryptocurrency exchange and derivative trading platform, is renting the world’s most expensive offices in Hong Kong, and recently, Hong Kong crypto-exchange Coinsuper, which has over one million users and up to US$250 million in daily trading, launched an ecosystem that connects investors, authorities and blockchain innovation labs.
Earlier this month, Deloitte, Kerry Logistics and CargoSmart made significant advances in applying blockchain in global trade and finance. The companies announced that they have successfully connected distributed ledger technology (DLT) networks for a platform to enhance efficiency for the shipping industry worldwide by digitizing document exchange between forwarders and carriers, as well as improving the traceability of shipping documents.
The Hong Kong Blockchain Ecosystem map showcases the technology, service providers, financial services, as well as media, content and events companies involved in the blockchain industry. It also features blockchain research and education facilities, and ecosystem supporters.
Media/Content/Events
In the media, content and events category, the Hong Kong Blockchain Ecosystem infographic mentions the annual Hong Kong Fintech Week and the Token2049 events, DigFin and FintechNews.hk news portals, VirtualCyte, an integrated augmented reality and virtual reality advertising platform, and SingularDTV, an entertainment decentralized ecosystem.
Technology
The technology category includes companies focusing on blockchain technologies in various industries and verticals. These companies include Ethereum-focused startup incubator ConsenSys, which opened a Hong Kong office earlier this month, NEM, a blockchain platform, Ledger, a cryptocurrency hardware wallet manufacturer, Pundi, a cryptocurrency point-of-sale (POS) manufacturer, and FinFabrik, a fintech solutions builders specializing in capital markets and crypto trading software.
Service providers
The service providers category gathers legal, taxation and technical professional services involved in blockchain. These include crypto and blockchain-focused companies Metaco, Blockchain Solutions, ICOMain.io and HashOne, but also L&Y Law Office, Swartz, Binnersley and Associates, Tzedek Law and Quinlan and Associates.
Financial services
The financial services category refers to capital, liquidity and trading services providers. These include banks such as HSBC, JP Morgan, DBS, ANZ and Gibraltar Stock Exchange, but also crypto companies such as Circle, Bitspark, One Block, MyEthShop, and Crypto.com.
Research/Education/Universities
The map also lists the organizations and facilities providing research, education and training services for blockchain technologies. These include the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Hong Kong, HKU LITE, the Asia Capital Markets Institute, as well as BlueLand and Altcoin Fantasy.
Ecosystem supporters
Finally, the ecosystem supporters category refers to the associations and organizations that are supporting the growing blockchain community in Hong Kong. These include governmental initiative Cyberport, HKSTP, the Hong Kong Blockchain Society, WHub and Blockchain HK.
