Bitcoin.com News Interviews

Allen Ng, Co-Founder & CEO of Everest Venture Group (EVG), joins us to break down why Hong Kong has emerged as Asia’s leading crypto hub in 2026.From launching startups in college to working on venture deals later acquired by Amazon, Allen’s journey spans the early days of tech to the rise of crypto. Since entering the space during the 2017 ICO era, he has built EVG into a 200-person firm delivering 400+ smart contract audits annually across major blockchain networks.In this conversation, we explore how Asia’s crypto landscape has evolved — and why Hong Kong is now at the center of it.Allen shares insights on:- The shift from the ICO era to today’s institutional crypto landscape- How Hong Kong overtook Singapore as Asia’s top crypto hub- The key differences between Hong Kong’s “bottom-up” ecosystem and Singapore’s “top-down” approach- Why talent and execution matter more than regulation- How Hong Kong connects to China’s vast engineering talent pool- Emerging markets like Vietnam and their growing crypto adoption- What founders should consider when choosing where to build in AsiaThis is a grounded, experience-driven discussion on the realities of building in crypto — based on over a decade of firsthand experience in the industry.📍 Recorded at Consensus HK | Bitcoin.com News Connect with us: Bitcoin.com News: https://news.bitcoin.comGuest: Allen Ng — Co-Founder & CEO, Everest Venture Group (EVG) | https://www.evg.co/Host: David SencilFollow for more conversations with builders shaping the future of crypto in Asia.

Is Bitcoin about to crash again… or is the bottom finally in?Top market technician Katie Stockton (CMT) joins Bitcoin.com News to break down what’s REALLY happening with BTC — and why this current rally might not mean what you think.From critical support levels to hidden technical signals, this interview reveals what smart money is watching right now.In This Video:- Is Bitcoin’s bear market secretly still active?- The truth about BTC’s “basing phase”- MACD signal that could predict the next big move- Why $58K is a crucial level- ETH vs BTC — which one leads the market now?- Are ETFs helping… or making things worse?Key Insights:- Short-term bounce ≠ long-term reversal- Ethereum offers bigger upside — but higher risk- ETFs are accelerating volatility- The ETH/BTC ratio may reveal where the market is heading⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 Bitcoin Market Overview02:59 Katie Stockton’s Background06:04 Technical Analysis in Crypto08:50 Market Sentiment Insights11:50 Basing Phases Explained14:55 ETF Impact on Bitcoin17:50 Bitcoin vs Ethereum21:10 Risk Appetite & Correlations23:50 What’s Next for Bitcoin?👇 So what do YOU think?Is Bitcoin already at the bottom — or is another drop coming?Share your thoughts in the comment section.

MetaPlanet bought Bitcoin at $65K—and saw a 5,000% increase in Bitcoin per share, becoming Japan’s top-performing public company.But the journey wasn’t easy. Think multiple 70% drawdowns, rapid market cycles, and unwavering conviction.In this episode, Dylan LeClair (Director of Bitcoin Strategy at MetaPlanet) joins David Sencil from the Japan Bitcoin Future Forum to break down the strategy behind the numbers—and what could drive the next Bitcoin bull run.We cover:• Why Bitcoin per share matters more than stock price• Navigating extreme volatility as a Bitcoin treasury company• How STRC is opening the door for institutional BTC exposure• Why most global capital still can’t access Bitcoin• What could trigger the next major bull cycleA deep dive into how institutions are positioning for Bitcoin’s future.Filmed at the Japan Bitcoin Future Forum.Timestamps:00:00 Bitcoin's Price Dynamics and Market Perception02:59 Sailor's Strategy and the Role of STRC06:13 MetaPlanet's Vision and Shareholder Engagement09:06 Catalysts for the Next Bitcoin Bull Market11:48 The Dual Role of Host and Guest

“While most people see a Bitcoin downturn, others see opportunity.In this episode, Samson Mow explains why this market might be ‘too good to be true’ — especially for big players.”In this episode, Jan3 CEO Samson Mow joins David Sencil to explain why the current downturn may not last — and why institutional demand could be stronger than ever.With companies like Strategy and MetaPlanet buying more Bitcoin than miners produce daily, Samson argues this market phase might be a rare window of opportunity for large-scale investors.Recorded in Japan, this conversation dives into the future of Bitcoin — from breaking market cycles to global adoption at the nation-state level.What you’ll learn in this episode:- Why the traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle may be breaking down- How JAN3 is working directly with governments on Bitcoin adoption- What Production Ready is and why a security-hardened Bitcoin client matters- Why quantum computing may not be a real threat to Bitcoin- The current state of Bitcoin adoption in Japan and MetaPlanet’s roleSamson Mow is the CEO of Jan3, focused on accelerating nation-state Bitcoin adoption and building tools like Aqua Wallet. He previously contributed to El Salvador’s Bitcoin strategy.📍 Recorded in Japan | Bitcoin.com NewsFollow the show for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of Bitcoin and crypto.Links & Resources:JAN3 — https://jan3.comAqua Wallet — https://aquawallet.ioMetaPlanet — https://metaplanet.jpChapters:00:00 Bitcoin's Unpredictable Nature00:21 Nation-State Bitcoin Adoption03:36 Global Adoption Landscape06:39 Bitcoin's Market Dynamics10:44 Community Divisions in Bitcoin11:06 Development and Client Diversity14:24 Quantum Computing Concerns19:22 Future of Bitcoin in Japan

CCE.Cash is a decentralized finance (DeFi) technology provider specialized in high-performance, non-custodial cryptocurrency exchange solutions. At the core of CCE.Cash is a proprietary, fully automated trading engine engineered to eliminate the friction of traditional exchanges. By removing the need for manual oversight and mandatory registrations, CCE.Cash provides an instantaneous "send-and-receive" workflow.In the rapidly shifting landscape of decentralized finance, the transition from complex, high-friction trading to seamless automation is often driven by those who understand the deepest layers of the stack. Michael Jonas, the Chief Blockchain Architect of CCE.Cash, is one such figure. In a recent interview, Jonas shared the journey of a career built on "digital trust," moving from a decade of traditional software development at tech giants to a PhD in Computer Science specializing in distributed systems and cryptography. For Jonas, the leap into blockchain in 2020 wasn't a pivot, but a natural progression toward solving the ultimate engineering challenge: how to build systems that work without a central authority.At the heart of the conversation is the mission of CCE.Cash, a platform designed to dismantle the barriers of traditional exchanges. Jonas advocates for a "privacy-first" model where registration and identity verification are discarded in favor of user autonomy. The platform’s exchange process is stripped down to its most functional form: users select their pair, provide a wallet address, and send their funds to a generated deposit address. From there, the system takes over. By utilizing automated protocols that wait for necessary network confirmations, CCE.Cash ensures that the exchange is finalized and sent directly to the user’s wallet without the funds ever sitting in a custodial account longer than necessary.The technical reality of "instant" trading, however, is far from simple. Jonas highlights the immense difficulty of engineering a system that can handle "edge cases" without human oversight. In a world of network congestion, sudden gas fee spikes, or users accidentally sending the wrong amount, the code must be the ultimate arbiter. Every possible failure scenario must be pre-calculated and handled by the exchange engine to ensure no funds are ever "stuck." This reliability is further complicated by cross-chain compatibility, where the system must simultaneously speak the "languages" of different blockchains, each with its own unique confirmation times and rules.Jonas credits much of the platform's resilience to his academic background. His doctoral research on distributed systems—specifically how nodes reach agreement without a central leader—is the blueprint for the CCE.Cash architecture. This "distributed mindset" led to a strictly non-custodial design, removing the central point of failure that has plagued many high-profile exchange collapses in the past. By combining this with cryptographic verification, the platform ensures every swap is verified on-chain before funds are released, balancing high-level security with the speed users demand.As the platform scales to handle higher trading volumes, Jonas points to a modular infrastructure and internal liquidity management as the keys to success. By decoupling different parts of the platform, a surge in Bitcoin traffic, for example, won't slow down an Ethereum swap. Looking toward the next two to three years, Jonas sees a future where automated trading becomes the industry standard. His vision for CCE.Cash involves expanding network support to every asset a user might want to swap while maintaining a fierce commitment to privacy. In an era of evolving regulations, Jonas remains dedicated to a simple philosophy: provide a service that is effortless for the user, but built on a foundation of rigorous, academic-grade security.

“They stop calling it a scam the moment they use a wallet.”In this episode, David Sencil speaks with Dr. Johnny Ng, Hong Kong Legislative Council member, entrepreneur, and PhD in computer science, about what truly drives Bitcoin and cryptocurrency adoption.Dr. Ng shares how direct user experience — not technical explanation — is the key to converting crypto skeptics, based on his journey from early doubt to policy-level engagement.The conversation also explores Hong Kong’s evolving role as a global crypto hub, including why pandemic-era policies — rather than geopolitical factors — led to the relocation of crypto companies, and how the region compares to other major hubs like Singapore, Korea, and Japan.Key topics include:- Bitcoin adoption and user experience- Crypto regulation and policymaking- Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure and digital assets strategy- Tokenization and the future of real-world assets on blockchain- The competitive landscape of crypto hubs in AsiaThis episode is ideal for listeners interested in Bitcoin, blockchain technology, crypto policy, fintech innovation, and global digital asset trends.

In this conversation with Bitcoin.com News, WeChange CEO Rob Tökölyi shares why he pivoted from 16 years in traditional currency exchange to building the future of crypto on-ramps. From surviving the regulatory gauntlet in Europe to making self-custody as simple as online banking, Robi discusses the real barriers to crypto adoption—and why stablecoins, not Bitcoin headlines, represent the everyday transformation ahead.Guest: Robert Tökölyi, CEO of WeChangeHost: David SencilRecorded: March 11, 2026In this conversation:- His path from currency exchange entrepreneur to WeChange founder- How non-custodial fiat-to-crypto on-ramps work (and why they're different)- Why self-custody adoption requires better UX, not more tech-savvy users- The regulatory double-bind: MiCA, the Bank of England, and why startups face a compliance arms race- Stablecoins vs. Bitcoin: which will drive real adoption?- Why "crypto selling out to TradFi" is really about market sentiment, not fundamentalsAbout WeChange:WeChange is a global, non-custodial fiat-to-crypto on-ramp and off-ramp platform headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. In one transaction, users move money from their bank account directly to their crypto wallet with a flat 2.5% fee—no hidden charges, no intermediate steps. Unlike custodial exchanges, WeChange never holds user funds or keys, preserving the sovereignty that makes crypto revolutionary.Links:- Website: https://wechange.com/ - Twitter: @wechangeappChapters:00:00 - Introduction to Crypto00:23 - Appreciation and Introduction 00:36 - Robert's Background 01:28 - Transition to Crypto02:48 - Challenges in Currency Exchange 04:15 - Introduction to Crypto 05:30 - Crypto and Regulation 07:13 - Introduction to WeChange 10:02 - Currency Exchange Process 11:46 - Simplifying Onboarding 13:15 - Bank Transfers and Delays 15:24 - Self-Custody Adoption 17:21 - Importance of Self-Custody 18:13 - Global Expansion Challenges 20:08 - Regulation and Compliance 22:17 - Thoughts on MICA 23:20 - Regulation Favoring Incumbents 25:11 - Future of Crypto 27:31 - Emotional Impact of Crypto 30:27 - Excitement for Stablecoins 31:21 - USD Dominance in Stablecoins 33:17 - Hungary's Perspective on Stablecoins 34:55 - Closing Remarks#Crypto #Bitcoin #Stablecoins #CryptoRegulation #SelfCustody

For years, the story was clear: crypto companies were leaving Hong Kong for Singapore.In this exclusive interview, Edwin Wong (VP & Head of Risk Control at KuCoin) reveals why KuCoin shut down its Singapore office and moved operations back to Hong Kong… and why many firms may be following the same path.What changed?Why now?And is Hong Kong quietly becoming the global crypto capital again?Edwin breaks down the real reasons behind this shift — from regulatory clarity to institutional trust — and explains why Hong Kong could outperform Singapore, Dubai, and other crypto hubs in the years ahead.He also dives into:• The origin of perpetual futures (and Hong Kong’s role)• Why US–China tensions may NOT matter as much as people think• Hong Kong’s crypto ETF advantage and what it means for big money• The difference between being “crypto-friendly” vs “crypto-ready”• What the return of major trading firms signals for 2025If you want to understand where the crypto industry is actually heading in Asia — this is a must-watch.About the Guest:Edwin Wong is VP and Head of Risk Control at KuCoin, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges serving 30M+ users globally.📍 Filmed at Consensus HK 2026 | Bitcoin.com News👉 Follow Bitcoin.com News official X account for more exclusive crypto interviews: https://x.com/BitcoinNews/👉 Learn more about KuCoin: https://www.kucoin.com/🎙 Host: David SencilTimestamps:00:00 Introduction01:09 From Traditional Finance to Crypto02:22 Regulation of Major Exchanges03:05 Global Regulatory Differences04:01 KuCoin’s Growth Strategy06:59 Hong Kong’s Crypto History08:25 HK’s Key Innovations10:12 Top Crypto Cities (2017–2026)12:33 Hong Kong’s Competitive Edge14:12 US–China Impact on Crypto15:20 Hong Kong vs Singapore

Founded by British aristocrat and high-stakes gambler Lord Porchester (Porchy), Housebets is live right now, giving away more than $5,000,000 in their sign-up airdrop, the most generous offer in online gambling history.Porchy, the son of the Earl of Carnarvon, didn’t launch Housebets because he wanted another startup. He launched it because he was personally sick of being treated like a walking ATM. He’s played every major platform at very high stakes, seen every trick (rigged bonuses, locked out of accounts, delayed & frozen payouts), and finally decided to build the casino he always wished existed — then hand the keys to the players. He recently joined the Bitcoin.com News podcast to share his vision to create a casino platform built on transparency and fairness for players.Porchy, the founder of Housebets, began the discussion by sharing his background in betting and crypto gaming. His interest started at a young age while attending Eaton, where he found he could access Betfair. His journey into crypto was driven by frustrations with traditional sports betting, such as a significant amount of money being owed and the lack of payment recourse from bookmakers, which led him to see the benefit of creating liquidity pools to ensure users get paid reliably.Porchy explained that the initial Housebets model, built on smart contracts and Polygon, was adapted because users were unwilling to deal with network downtime and contract signing. He stressed the importance of building trust, adapting the model to focus on transparency with reserves and margins, and having a public dashboard showing deposits, withdrawals, turnover, and profit and loss, even without being fully on-chain.The core of the Housebets model, according to Porchy, is to be the lowest edge, sustainable casino. This is achieved by planning to give away 100% of the house edge through rewards and keys. He noted that while a casino cannot offer 0% edge forever, Housebets can try to get close to it by providing rebates and giving players a higher chance of winning than a traditional casino.Porchy also detailed the $5 million allocation for the rewards program and the system for on-chain bonuses. Housebets has analyzed the deposit history of top bookmakers and tiered people to receive bonuses ranging from $20 to $100,000, but with a significantly lower turnover requirement (around 10 times) compared to the 35 times often seen in traditional casinos. Porchy confirmed they track ERC20 wallets, primarily USDT and ETH users, estimating nearly two million wallets qualify, while also implementing accurate scoring on token holding duration to mitigate abuse from “abusers” or “farmers.”Regarding the HBTS token, Porchy stated that it is designed to capture all the platform’s value and transparently show its allocation, primarily to stakers. These stakers are granted control over determining the amount of additional rewards that go to users in the long run. Porchy’s confidence in the token’s success is tied to a “flywheel effect”: token holders are incentivized to encourage platform usage and increased turnover, which in turn benefits the token’s value by growing with the platform’s volume.In terms of future vision, Porchy confirmed the project was inspired by Hyperliquid’s community-first airdrop model, and the ultimate goal is for Housebets to become the “Hyperliquid of gambling.” Looking ahead five years, he envisions a heavy focus on developing an aggregated sports book, which will pool liquidity to solve the issue of users being limited by existing bookmakers.To learn more about the project visit housebets.com, and follow the team on X or Telegram.

Hugo Philion, Co-founder of Flare and CEO of Flare Labs, shares the developments underway at the EVM-based Layer 1 blockchain. Philion, who brings a strong background from finance and machine learning, details Flare’s mission to build an end-to-end decentralized finance ecosystem around the vast, yet underutilized, XRP asset. He shares his vision that a superior technology, like decentralized finance, is an inevitable progression that will eventually supplant existing, intermediary-heavy financial systems.Flare operates as a unique Layer 1, leveraging embedded data protocols to power its bridges and DeFi ecosystem. It has built a full suite of on-chain functionalities for XRP holders, allowing users to engage in borrow/lend, trade on decentralized exchanges (DEXes), create decentralized stablecoins, and open collateralized options strategies—all directly with XRP. The immediate focus for the platform is to expand these markets, build substantial liquidity, and prepare for the next critical phase: pairing XRP with a variety of real-world assets on-chain.To make this ecosystem accessible to all XRP holders, Flare recently rolled out its game-changing Flare Smart Accounts. This innovative abstraction eliminates the need for retail users to acquire the native Flare token or download a new wallet, allowing them to control Flare transactions—such as minting FXRP and depositing into a vault—directly from the XRP Ledger. This user-friendly mechanism has driven significant adoption, with FXRP, the bridged version of XRP on Flare, growing by 31% in just 10 days since the Smart Accounts launch, reaching approximately 133 million units.While committed to being retail-friendly, Philion emphasizes that a major market unlock lies in enabling institutional products, given that an estimated 60-70% of XRP is held on exchanges. Looking to the future, he asserts that the migration of all traditional real-world assets—including stocks, bonds, and derivatives—to blockchains is inevitable. The current plan is to maximize the usage and liquidity of XRP, which will then serve as a driver for integrating other major tokens like Bitcoin into the Flare DeFi ecosystem.A critical barrier to institutional adoption of real-world assets on-chain is the need for privacy in trading and complex applications. To address this, Flare is preparing for its highly anticipated Flare 2.0 update, which will introduce a new compute layer. This layer is designed to enable applications to sit off-chain with full privacy while settling securely on-chain. This powerful and flexible, privacy-preserving compute layer will position Flare as a vital hub for RWA, allowing for the creation of complex applications like DEXes and lending protocols for assets issued on Flare or connected chains like the XRP Ledger.To learn more about the technology visit flare.network, and follow the team on X.