A senior Hong Kong regulator and a lawmaker have withdrawn from this week’s Asia Bitcoin Conference after reportedly being advised to avoid interacting with Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump.
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission Executive Director Ip Chi-hang is no longer listed as a keynote speaker. Legislative Council member and tech entrepreneur Ng Kit-chung has also been removed from the agenda.
Both names appeared on the website in mid-July, shortly after organizers announced Eric Trump would attend the event.
Shen Jianjun, the manager of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission who is responsible for supervising fintech policy, will represent the SFC at the two-day event in place of Mr. Ye.
Bitcoin Asia's absence is linked to cautious official guidance on cryptocurrencies.
Eric Trump, co-founder of the mining company American Bitcoin and involved in World Liberty Financial, a digital asset venture backed by the Trump family, is scheduled to attend two conferences in Hong Kong on Friday titled "All In on Bitcoin" and "Bitcoin Takes Over the World."
The South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday that Ng said he withdrew from the meeting because of a personal matter that conflicted with the agenda, while the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said Yip was absent due to a business trip.
Furthermore, the report said officials have been advised to keep a low profile on cryptocurrencies, urging caution, especially as stablecoins and cross-border capital flows come under scrutiny.
The guide was released ahead of the conference, the second held in Hong Kong since last year, as the city continues its efforts to establish itself as a hub for digital assets.
The trade dispute escalates, with the US imposing tariffs on Hong Kong imports increasing pressure.
Lau Siu-kai, an advisor to the National Association for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said the move was intended to avoid the perception that Trump was collaborating with Donald Trump. He also noted that the Trump family's involvement in cryptocurrency has previously drawn criticism, particularly from critics who believe it blurs the line between personal interests and public roles.
The Bitcoin Asia Conference, hosted by BTC Inc., is one of the world's largest industry events. The event attracts investors, miners, and policymakers from across Asia.
The meeting comes as Hong Kong struggles to balance its ambitions to become a hub for digital assets with the political realities of strained Sino-US relations.
The timing highlights the sensitivity of today's political climate. Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has placed cryptocurrency at the center of his economic agenda. He has also unveiled new regulations that supporters say could transform the United States into the "cryptocurrency capital of the world."
At the same time, his administration has escalated trade tensions. Specifically, Washington has imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Hong Kong imports. As a result, Hong Kong is now at the center of the latest phase of the US-China tariff war.
