Crypto industry experts at Consensus see Asian institutions pivot toward stablecoins

Finance Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Crypto industry experts at Consensus see Asian institutions pivot toward stablecoins Panelists at the conference discussed how regulatory progress in Hong Kong and Japan creates a structured path for capital allocation. By Stephen Alpher , AI Boost Feb 12, 2026, 2:39 p.m. Make us preferred on Google Consensus Hong Kong (CoinDesk) What to know : Institutional crypto transactions in Asia grew 70% year over year to reach $2.3 trillion by mid-2025. Regulatory clarity in hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore has driven a shift from speculation to structured yield. Major banks in Japan now develop stablecoin solutions to build regulated rails for traditional capital. Hong Kong — Institutional crypto participation across Asia is moving into a more mature phase as regulators establish clear frameworks for stablecoins and exchange-traded funds. Large players now favor market-neutral strategies and regulated vehicles over direct, directional exposure to digital assets. Vicky Wang, president of Amber Premium, highlighted this shift during a panel discussion at Consensus Hong Kong. She noted that while transaction volumes reached $2.3 trillion by mid-2025, capital allocation remains cautious. "The institutional participation in Asia, I would say it's real, but at the same time it's very cautious," Wang said. She observed that institutions prefer "market neutral and yield strategy" over aggressive directional bets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Don't miss another story. Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today . See all newsletters Sign me up By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms & conditions and privacy policy . Fakhul Miah, managing director of GoMining Institutional, pointed to the recent approval of ETFs and perpetuals in Hong Kong as a major driver for liquidity. He noted that even traditional "mega banks" in Japan are now working on stablecoin solutions. These developments allow traditional capital to enter the space through familiar structures. Miah explained that institutions must pass through "risk committees and operational governance structures," which historically did not exist for onchain products. The focus for many Asian institutions has shifted toward real-world asset tokenization and stablecoin settlement. Wendy Sun, chief brand officer at Matrixport, noted that while these topics are popular, there remains a gap in internal treasury adoption. "For the internal treasury-based stablecoin, we are still waiting for the standard to come out," Sun said. She argued that the behavior of these institutions is becoming more "rule-based and scheduled" rather than pursuing short-term gains. Wang concluded that the industry's future rests on the convergence of artificial intelligence and digital assets. "In the future, digital assets would not be a just alternative asset class or an alternative financial system," Wang said. "It will be the financial layer of the AI." Consensus Hong Kong 2026 AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards . For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy . More For You Gate CEO and founder Lin Han says banks have lost the war against stablecoins By Olivier Acuna | Edited by Jamie Crawley 4 minutes ago The head of the fourth-largest crypto exchange by daily trading volume also said he believes bitcoin’s four-year cycle is no longer a thing. What to know : Han Lin, CEO of Gate, argues that bitcoin’s traditional four-year halving cycle no longer drives crypto markets, which he says now move in tandem with the broader global economy, U.S. equities and AI trends. Lin says Gate’s rebranding and partnerships are aimed at capturing a coming boom in real-world asset tokenization, as stocks, metals and commodities migrate onto 24/7 blockchain trading platforms. While banks and regulators push back on stablecoin yields, Lin contends that banks increasingly see stablecoins as useful payment rails, and he predicts crypto-native exchanges will soon outcompete traditional exchanges by offering more efficient, always-on markets. Read full story Latest Crypto News Gate CEO and founder Lin Han says banks have lost the war against stablecoins 4 minutes ago Only 5% of companies see AI improving profit, McKinsey China chairman tells Consensus 14 minutes ago CoinDesk 20 performance update: Hedera (HBAR) rises 6.7%, leading index higher 23 minutes ago Bitcoin layer-2 builders pitch BTCFi as the next institutional unlock 42 minutes ago From stablecoins to biotech: Why YZi Labs is betting on things that haven't happened yet 1 hour ago Recapping day 2 of Consensus Hong Kong 1 hour ago Top Stories Bitcoin defies 'extreme fear,' hot jobs report to show signs of resilience 2 hours ago Forget $80k: Michael Terpin warns bitcoin could revisit the $40,000s before a real recovery 2 hours ago Binance's Richard Teng breaks down the ‘10/10’ nightmare that rocked crypto 6 hours ago UK appoints HSBC for blockchain bond pilot 8 hours ago Charles Hoskinson confirms deal to onboard LayerZero on Cardano 12 hours ago Ark Invest buys Bullish stock for 9th straight day in $11.6 million purchase 3 hours ago