“Prop Frauds Result from Industry Gaps, Traders Stay Coordinated”: iFX EXPO Asia 2025 Enters Final Day

iFX EXPO Asia 2025 began in Hong Kong over the weekend. The three-day exhibition runs from October 26 to 28 and gathers professionals from online trading, fintech, and financial services.

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Yesterday (Monday) the event featured panel discussions on topics including artificial intelligence, stablecoins, commodities, fintech partnerships, APAC market trends, and cybersecurity. These sessions explored how technology and regulation Regulation Like any other industry with a high net worth, the financial services industry is tightly regulated to help curb illicit behavior and manipulation. Each asset class has its own set of protocols put in place to combat their respective forms of abuse.In the foreign exchange space, regulation is assumed by authorities in multiple jurisdictions, though ultimately lacking a binding international order. Who are the Industry’s Leading Regulators?Regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ( Like any other industry with a high net worth, the financial services industry is tightly regulated to help curb illicit behavior and manipulation. Each asset class has its own set of protocols put in place to combat their respective forms of abuse.In the foreign exchange space, regulation is assumed by authorities in multiple jurisdictions, though ultimately lacking a binding international order. Who are the Industry’s Leading Regulators?Regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority ( Read this Term are shaping the region’s financial landscape.

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The final day of iFX EXPO Asia 2025 takes place today at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hall 2. The program includes the main exhibition and several conferences, with speakers representing companies across the trading and fintech Fintech Financial Technology (fintech) is defined as ay technology that is geared towards automating and enhancing the delivery and application of financial services. The origin of the term fintechs can be traced back to the 1990s where it was primarily used as a back-end system technology for renowned financial institutions. However, it has since grown outside the business sector with an increased focus upon consumer services.What Purpose Do Fintechs Serve?The main purpose of fintechs would be to suppl Financial Technology (fintech) is defined as ay technology that is geared towards automating and enhancing the delivery and application of financial services. The origin of the term fintechs can be traced back to the 1990s where it was primarily used as a back-end system technology for renowned financial institutions. However, it has since grown outside the business sector with an increased focus upon consumer services.What Purpose Do Fintechs Serve?The main purpose of fintechs would be to suppl Read this Term sectors.

Compliance and Control Challenges Discussed Across APAC Markets

The panel “Regulate This! Compliance, Control & Competition in Asia” examined how regulatory shifts are reshaping fintech, trading, and payments across the region.

Moderated by Eugenio Accongiagioco, Managing Director at APAC Management Consultancy, the session featured Chokri Houimli, CEO of MH Markets; Laura Liisa Lemetsar, CGO at LeadnAsia and Macro Global Markets; M Sivakumar, APAC Legal Director at Sumsub; Paul Derham, Managing Partner at Holley Nethercote; and Lydia Wong, APAC & MENA Regulatory Lead Counsel at Crypto.com.

Speakers discussed fragmented frameworks, rising compliance costs, and the need for harmonization as APAC remains both a challenging and high-growth regulatory environment.

Future of Banking Explored Amid Fintech Growth

The panel “Built to Last or Bound to Break? Can Traditional Banks Survive the Fintech Era?” was moderated by Lissele Pratt, Co-Founder of Capitalixe. Speakers included Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-founder and CEO of Alpaca; Chris Lau, Head of Hong Kong & GBA, Commercial at Olea Global Pte.; Peisi Deng, Wealth Advisor at StashAway; and Moustapha Abdel Sater, CCO at B2BROKER.

The discussion focused on the challenges traditional banks face as fintechs scale rapidly and attract digital-native clients.

Panelists examined how banks are leveraging fintech partnerships, embedded finance, and banking-as-a-service, the regulatory environment for fintech innovation, and the evolving needs of consumers and businesses.

The session explored whether traditional institutions can adapt quickly enough to remain competitive in Hong Kong and the wider APAC financial landscape.

Tokenised Assets, Infrastructure, and Investment Opportunities Explored

The panel “From Gold to Code: The Tokenisation of Traditional Assets” was moderated by Emil Chan, Co-Chair of the Hong Kong Digital Finance Association. Speakers included Lennon Tam, Head of Operations at WCG Markets; Andy Cheung, Director of Crypto at CBCX and Founder of Zeuspace; Jesper Cheng, Advisor at GoldZip; and Giorgia Pellizzari, Chief Product Officer and Head of Custody at Hex Trust.

The discussion focused on the rise of tokenised assets in the Asia Pacific region and their impact on trading and investment.

Panelists explored regulatory frameworks in Hong Kong and Singapore, how banks are adopting tokenisation to modernize traditional asset classes, infrastructure and technology requirements for scalable solutions, and opportunities for retail and institutional investors in tokenised commodities.

The session highlighted the evolving role of precious metals as digitally enabled asset classes.

Day 2 at iFX EXPO Asia 2025 is in full swing.
Packed halls, strong connections, and real business taking shape.

Innovation, collaboration, and opportunity all under one roof in Hong Kong.#iFXEXPO #iFXEXPOAsia2025 #OnlineTrading #Fintech #Brokerage #Networking #HongKong pic.twitter.com/ydLdJWm1Kb

— iFX EXPO (@iFXEXPO) October 28, 2025

Evolution of Digital Wallets and Embedded Payment Layers

The session “Cashless Future: Digital Wallet Race is Heating Up” was moderated by Nikolai Isayev, Chief Operating Officer and Editor-in-Chief at FinanceFeeds. Speakers included Daniel So, Head of Business Development, Hong Kong at Worldpay; Paul van Sint Fiet, Head of Cross-Currency Solutions, APAC at J.P. Morgan; and Anish Jain, Founder and Group CEO of Winity Life and WadzPay.

The discussion focused on Hong Kong’s growing adoption of digital wallets and app-based payment methods. Panelists examined how credit cards and digital wallets are evolving into seamless payment layers, the influence of local infrastructure and user behaviour, and strategies to improve digital inclusion for elderly and underserved populations.

The session highlighted the competitive push by financial institutions and fintech firms to shape Hong Kong’s emerging digital payment ecosystem.

🚀 Hello, Hong Kong!
PokePay is live at iFX EXPO Asia 2025 🎯
Connecting with global leaders in finance and technology to shape the future of crypto payments.

From virtual cards to cross-border spending — we make digital assets practical, trusted, and global.#PokePay #iFXEXPO… pic.twitter.com/3tQ4xQEQn0

— PokePay (@PokePayGlobal) October 27, 2025

Panel Examines Silver’s Role Amid Growing Crypto Markets

The session “Metal vs Machine: Bullion in the Age of Crypto” featured Ivan Wong, Managing Director at ATFX Connect for Southeast Asia, as moderator. Speakers included Nikhil Joshi, Sales Manager at MH Markets, and Edita Lozovska, Global Head of Brand at ZFX.

The discussion focused on silver’s role in a financial landscape increasingly dominated by digital assets. Panelists examined silver as a hedge, store of value, and industrial asset for retail and institutional investors. Topics included tokenized silver and its impact on market liquidity, comparisons with digital assets, fintech-enabled investment access, and the evolving appetite for silver in modern portfolios.

Quant Strategies, Digital Assets, and Talent in APAC Trading

The session titled “Quant Wars & Crypto Moves: The Prop Trading Shakeup”, moderated by Markus Sichler, Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor at YourPropFirm, featured speakers from leading firms in the APAC prop trading and fintech space. The panel included Kelvin Zhao, Head of Greater China at Axi; Bobby Winters, Group COO at Alchemy Prime/Markets/Xoala; Andrey Kalashnikov, Head of Match2Pay; and Gil Ben Hur, Founder of 5% Group.

The discussion focused on recent changes in the region’s prop trading landscape. Topics covered included the rapid growth of quant strategies, the integration of digital assets, evolving technology stacks, and the competitive importance of talent.

Speakers also addressed regulatory developments and how firms are adjusting their trading desks to maintain speed, precision, and performance. The session explored trends in multi-asset execution, real-time risk modeling, and strategies shaping the future of APAC prop trading.

Examining Institutional and Retail Solutions in FX, Metals, and Digital Assets

The panel “The Evolution of Market Access: From Prime Liquidity to Retail Solutions” featured Nick Twidale, Chief Market Analyst at ATFX Australia, as moderator, with speakers Wei Qiang Zhang, Managing Director at ATFX Connect Global, and Siju Daniel, Chief Commercial Officer at ATFX.

The discussion focused on the changing landscape of market access, from institutional clients seeking deep liquidity and robust execution to retail traders requiring seamless platforms, copy trading, and advanced analytics.

Speakers examined how the convergence of institutional and retail solutions is shaping FX, metals, and digital asset markets, and highlighted the infrastructure, partnerships, and innovations supporting the next generation of trading.

Panel Examines AI Insights and Human Intuition in Financial Markets

The session “Beyond the Crystal Ball: Can AI See What Humans Can’t?” featured Kaia-Reet Parv, Market Strategist at First Degree Global Asset Management, serving as moderator. Speakers included Alex Delarue, Regional Commercial Director at IUX Laura Liisa Lemetsar, CGO at LeadnAsia | Macro Global Markets; Andy Chun, Professor of Practice at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Afshin Setoudeh, CMO at ZFX; and Charlie Chiu, Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services Hong Kong.

The discussion examined the role of AI in market prediction, price discovery, and execution.

Speakers explored how machine learning models detect patterns that humans may miss, the use of alternative data in forecasting and risk modeling, and the areas where human intuition still provides an edge.

The session highlighted both the potential and the challenges of AI tools in shaping trading and portfolio strategies across APAC.

Trading Challenges and Lessons at Prop Firms Discussed

The session “Prop F*ckups: Lessons from the Front Lines” featured Santiago Valencia, Chief Partnership Officer at Swiset, as moderator and Tom Higgins, Founder and CEO of Gold-i.

The Speaker discussed challenges faced by institutional proprietary firms and retail-funded trading programs. Topics included common mistakes in trading, pitfalls in scaling teams and infrastructure, and strategies for learning from losses while maintaining client and investor confidence. The session aimed to provide practical insights on building resilient operations in fast-moving markets.