Ant Group CEO Rules Out Crypto Issuance, Focuses on Tokenization Compliance

Ant Group CEO Cyril Han Xinyi has firmly ruled out the issuance of cryptocurrencies or participation in speculative crypto trading, emphasizing a focus on building technological infrastructure to serve the real economy rather than disrupt it. Han highlighted the importance of integrating tokenization deeply with tangible industries to unlock sustainable value, stating that most of the $3.8 trillion in global Web3 assets are currently speculative and lack real-world economic interaction. Ant Group has advanced initiatives like real-world asset sandbox projects to promote efficient circulation and interconnection of physical assets, positioning asset and payment tokenization as key drivers for linking digital and physical economies. The company’s cautious approach aligns with the stringent regulatory environment in China and Hong Kong, where crypto-related activities face heavy scrutiny and no stablecoin operators have yet been approved. Han also noted improvements in blockchain scalability, AI, IoT integration, and privacy technologies, which could support the development of token economies beyond finance, including renewable energy and computing sectors. This stance reflects a broader trend in Hong Kong prioritizing financial stability over speculative crypto innovation, contrasting with more permissive approaches in Western markets.