Hong Kong Aims to Lead Global Tokenization Push with Fintech 2030 Strategy

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has announced an ambitious plan to make the region a global hub for tokenization and financial innovation. Unveiled during Hong Kong Fintech Week, the regulator’s Fintech 2030 strategy outlines a roadmap to strengthen the city’s fintech ecosystem over the next five years.

The strategy revolves around four core pillars: Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Resilience, and Tokenization, collectively referred to as “DART.” Under this framework, the HKMA will roll out 40 initiatives aimed at expanding the digital finance landscape, with a particular emphasis on accelerating the RWA tokenization.

“The HKMA will lead by example by regularising the issuance of tokenised government bonds and exploring the concept of tokenising Exchange Fund papers,” the authority said in its statement. This marks one of the most concrete government-led commitments globally to integrate blockchain technology into traditional finance.

e-HKD and Project Ensemble to Drive Digital Settlements

As part of its tokenization efforts, the HKMA plans to advance its central bank digital currency (CBDC) project, known as the e-HKD. The digital currency, which recently completed its pilot phase, demonstrated the potential for settlement of tokenized assets, offline payments, and programmable transactions.

According to the HKMA, future blockchain settlements will be powered by a combination of digital money formats, including e-HKD, tokenized deposits, and regulated stablecoins. This hybrid approach aims to improve settlement efficiency, transparency, and cross-border interoperability.

The authority also revealed that it will soon launch Project Ensemble, a collaborative pilot initiative designed to test tokenization applications in partnership with industry players and central banks. The project will explore practical use cases such as digital bond issuance and blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

Integrating AI for a Smarter Financial Future

Beyond tokenization, the Fintech 2030 strategy places a strong focus on artificial intelligence as a driver of modernization within Hong Kong’s financial sector. 

The HKMA said it aims to leverage AI to enhance accessibility, responsiveness, and personalization in banking services, while ensuring transparency and maintaining public trust.

Through its DART framework, the HKMA is signaling a clear intent: to cement Hong Kong’s position as a leader in digital finance by the end of the decade.