Hong Kong and Pakistan Officials Differ on Digital Asset Regulation Pace at Bitcoin Asia 2026

Hong Kong Investment Promotion Agency official Leung Hon-king and Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib outlined different approaches to digital asset regulation during a roundtable at Bitcoin Asia 2026 in Hong Kong. According to Foresight News, Leung said Hong Kong values consistency as an international financial center, arguing that frequent rule changes make it difficult for market participants to engage. He said Hong Kong is laying out a roadmap and sticking to it, introducing new measures every six to 12 months so companies can plan investments over three- to five-year cycles. He also said Hong Kong aims to bring $320 trillion in traditional financial assets onchain while embracing digital assets. Saqib said Pakistan is prioritizing speed. He said the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority took six months from the passage of the relevant bill to the release of regulatory rules, using only 8% of the government-allocated budget. He added that in emerging economies, existing institutional structures still operate on 19th- and 20th-century tracks, while technology is advancing at machine speed and internet speed. Saqib said execution still requires sufficient risk mitigation, but for countries like Pakistan, the cost of inaction is greater than the cost of action.