Since its first launch in 2015, the Consensus conference has grown from a small industry gathering to one of the top events in the global blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, known as the "Super Bowl of the blockchain industry." The conference has attracted a wide range of participants from government officials, entrepreneurs to developers, investors and technical experts, and has become a key platform for showcasing innovative technologies, industry trends and policy changes.

This year, the Consensus conference will leave the United States for the first time and will be held in Hong Kong, China from February 18 to 20, 2025. It aims to provide a platform for free communication and in-depth discussion for Asian developers, traders, policy makers and decision makers, and to unite the East and the West for key dialogues and transactions.

Why you should not miss Consensus HK?

In recent years, the Asian market has become increasingly important in blockchain technology innovation and cryptocurrency investment. Asia's movements have become crucial in the global adoption of Web3 and blockchain. According to a study released by Consensus, Asia's cryptocurrency adoption rate is 22%, almost three times the global average of 7.8%. With this in mind, it is a natural choice for Consensus to expand its activities to Asia. As one of the world's financial centers, Hong Kong's open attitude and policy support for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology make it an ideal location for the conference.

"Hong Kong is a great place to hold conferences," Michael Lau, chairman of Consensus Hong Kong, told PANews. With major international airports connected to countries around the world, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, convenient transportation and amazing dining options, Hong Kong has the ability to not only host a great conference, but also excel.

Different from other Web3 events of various shapes and sizes, Consensus Hong Kong also brings the high quality and high standards of the Consensus brand to Hong Kong. Michael Lau said that this event will present high-quality content on a large scale, and the most representative of the quality of the content is the more than 270 speakers from around the world, most of whom are founders, CEOs, senior managers and presidents; and "large scale" refers to the thousands of registered attendees from more than 90 countries.

In addition, Hong Kong’s strategic location makes it the “Gateway to Asia.” Most of Asia’s major markets and jurisdictions are within a four-hour flight from Hong Kong, bringing together top voices and ecosystems from across Asia, allowing attendees to gain in-depth insights into what’s happening across the region.

Michael Lau also pointed out that Consensus Hong Kong is an opportunity to fully showcase Hong Kong - both the local Web3 industry and the city itself. "We want to be the first in the Web3 conference industry to show how to integrate the city into the conference experience. A great example is that Consensus Hong Kong has become the first official Web3 cup sponsor of the Happy Wednesday horse racing event, and we will host the official evening event for hundreds of attendees at the Happy Valley Racecourse. The key is to create a unique conference experience by integrating iconic Hong Kong experiences and working with partners who are Hong Kong-specific."

It is understood that Consensus Hong Kong is expected to attract more than 8,000 industry participants from all over the world to discuss topics such as cryptocurrency, blockchain and Web3 ecosystem, aiming to pool ideas and jointly shape a digital vision.

Heavyweight guests gathered, and multiple venues were full of excitement

"This year is very important in the history of the industry." Just like the successful Consensus held in the past few years, this conference covers a wide range of topics, including the development of Layer 1 blockchain, institutional adoption, stablecoins, cross-border finance and payments, and Web3 culture. Speaking of the topics that Consensus Hong Kong will focus on, Michael Lau believes that "large-scale application" is still the biggest theme at the macro level.

He said that throughout the history of blockchain, adoption has always been driven from the bottom up, and recently, as regulation has become clearer and governments have shown more support, top-down factors have accelerated the process. This year, these bottom-up and top-down adoption factors seem to be converging, and it can be seen that the pace of adoption is accelerating.

“Back to our vision of showcasing Hong Kong, we are delighted to invite the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to deliver the opening keynote speech for the conference.” Michael Lau also briefly introduced several other heavyweight guests who will bring cutting-edge industry insights and profound thinking to the participants, covering market hot spots and future development trends:

• Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan will deliver the opening keynote speech;
• Binance CEO Richard Teng will share key trends in the future of cryptocurrency;
• Solana Foundation President Lily Liu will share the strategic plan for building a global Internet capital market;
• Adam Back, co-founder and CEO of Blockstream, will give his insights on Bitcoin and the new financial system based on it;
• Julia Leung, CEO of the Securities and Futures Commission, will analyze the development and changes in digital asset regulation in the coming year;
• Robinhood Cryptocurrency CEO Johann Kerbrat will also provide unique insights into the dynamics of the retail trading market

In addition to the above-mentioned speakers, there are more than 100 industry leaders serving as guest speakers to share their cutting-edge insights and in-depth thinking.

In order to allow the world's leading industry thought leaders and innovators to fully express, communicate and discuss, and jointly bring a rich and cutting-edge technology feast, this conference has several special sessions covering future finance, blockchain technology, cryptocurrency and emerging technologies, aiming to promote cross-border exchanges and promote industry development.

• The main venue of Consensus Hong Kong will focus on keynote speeches with broad market relevance, discussing the most important industry topics at the moment. Competition for speaking time is fierce, and only major market news and well-known figures in the industry will have the opportunity to take the stage;
• "Reimagining Money" is an important forum for the future of finance, providing an ideal exchange platform for institutional investors, policymakers and financial professionals to explore the huge potential of the pioneers of change and the cryptocurrency economy. It will also host the Open Money Summit and the FutureFi Summit, providing industry leaders with an opportunity to exchange ideas
• As a gathering place for artists, creators, brands, gamers and AI enthusiasts, the Emerging Tech Venue is dedicated to exploring the innovation and transformation of the future of the Internet. This venue will host the Future of Creativity Summit and the Emerging Tech Summit to promote cross-border cooperation and the collision of creative sparks.
• The Builders' Forum is a dynamic center for developers, founders, investors, and technology enthusiasts. Through the Protocol Village and Startup Village, the venue will discuss the latest tools and practices in the field of blockchain and Web3 development, providing more practical opportunities for technology exploration.

Not only an industry gathering, but also an entertainment carnival

During the Consensus conference, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) will hold a two-day offline hackathon "EasyA Consensus 2025". Last year, the EasyA Consensus 2024 hackathon was successfully held, attracting more than 700 developers to participate and a prize of more than $400,000. On this basis, this year's Consensus will once again cooperate with EasyA to provide a platform for hundreds of top developers to showcase themselves and gain exposure opportunities in front of top VCs, industry OGs, and business leaders.

In addition to developer activities, this year's Consensus will also offer a variety of exciting and special entertainment activities such as parties, horse racing, music festivals, and fights.

Consensus Opening Party "Rooftop Carnival"

Consensus Hong Kong kicked off with a party at Cloud 39, atop the iconic Henderson hotel. With world-class DJs playing, the city’s skyline was in full view.

The Consensus Cup@ Happy Valley Racecourse

From thrilling horse racing to live performances, international DJs and lively beer gardens, it’s the most exciting nightlife. As the official sponsor of the cup, all consensus certificate holders will have special access and a dedicated golden viewing area.

Token of Love Hong Kong Music Festival

The festival will break through regional, industry and cultural boundaries and bring together the world's top DJs, well-known bands and international music groups. The star lineup includes DJ Mao, tripleS, 3CORNERZ, MIYAVI, etc., covering a variety of music genres such as rock, electronic and hip-hop.

Crypto Fight Night

Crypto Fight Night (Hong Kong) aims to combine the world of cryptocurrency with boxing, bringing together top crypto companies, industry KOLs and heavyweight investors to create an intersection of entertainment and innovation. It not only presents heart-pounding events, but also provides an excellent communication platform.

Consensus Closing Ceremony

At Lan Kwai Fong’s iconic venue The Iron Fairies, Consensus Hong Kong will host an unforgettable convention celebration with an open bar, live music and world-class dancing.

Since the first Consensus, side events have been an important part of the conference. During this year’s conference, there will be hundreds of parties and side events around Consensus Hong Kong across Hong Kong, where you can relax and network with the best minds in the industry.

PANews exclusive ticket discount

To give back to the PANews community for their support, PANews readers can enjoy exclusive offers, and the link will automatically populate with the discount:

• Discount code: PANEWS

• Ticket purchase link: https://go.coindesk.com/3ZqweJX