A key collaboration, led by industry leaders and official agencies, has officially launched. Recently, Forms Syntron Limited (Hong Kong) signed a memorandum of cooperation with Cyberport, announcing the establishment of a co-creation center focused on "blockchainization"—the "Blockchain Town @ Cyberport."
The project signals an ambition to invest up to HKD 100 million over the next three years, aiming to nurture five potential unicorn companies and over 200 local talents. Behind this important milestone is one of the key drivers, Chen Yao-Wen, Chief Digital Officer of Forms Syntron and Director of the FINNOSpace Innovation Center. In this exclusive interview, he deeply analyzes the strategic significance, operational model, and far-reaching impact of "Blockchain Town" on Hong Kong's future.
Forms Syntron's Strategic Leap: From Technology Provider to Ecological Initiator
Regarding Forms Syntron's transition from software developer to initiator of the "Blockchain Town" ecosystem project, Chen views this as a strategic necessity in line with the trends. He explains that as blockchain applications move from the laboratory into actual business scenarios, Hong Kong’s ability to become a "global digital asset hub" hinges on the establishment of a robust and thriving on-chain financial ecosystem.
"We adhere to the mission of Invest in HK for HK, hoping to contribute to this on-chain financial ecosystem," emphasizes Chen. "Beyond providing technology, we aim to accelerate Hong Kong's ecosystem building through funding, technology, and accumulated compliant Web3 practical experience, assisting blockchain technology firms, RWA digital asset companies, and relevant industry stakeholders."
Chen notes that Forms Syntron's unique market positioning and extensive technical practice experience position it well to connect traditional finance (TradFi) or Web2 finance with compliant Web3 on-chain finance, thereby assisting Hong Kong in realizing the synergy between Web2 and Web3 for scalable industry development.
Business Model: Agile Investment Aimed at "Growing the Pie"
Facing an investment plan of HKD 100 million, Chen reveals that the strategy is "agile" to respond to the rapid changes in the digital asset market. He clearly states that the core mission of the "Blockchain Town @ Cyberport" plan is to "invest in Hong Kong, build Hong Kong."
"As for practical commercial considerations, we hope to accelerate the development of digital finance, thereby increasing stakeholder demand for blockchain advisory services and technology, essentially growing the pie and expanding our business opportunities." He admits that this is more akin to a strategic investment to establish industry positioning.
So, how is success measured? Chen presents three non-financial indicators:
- Contributing to Hong Kong's acceleration in becoming a global digital asset hub.
- Cultivating technology and business talents that support the development of digital assets in Hong Kong.
- Nurturing "Made in HK" successful blockchain or digital asset enterprises.
Nurturing Unicorns: Five Pillars to Empower "Blockchainisation"
To nurture five potential unicorns within three years, the selection criteria are crucial. Chen states that the primary consideration is whether the startup has sufficient potential to "aid Hong Kong’s development into a global digital asset hub." While he does not explicitly say “look for higher lines” for projects in key areas of on-chain finance like RWA, he emphasizes the inherent alignment of this domain with Hong Kong's positioning as an international financial center.
In addition to funding, Forms Syntron will accelerate startup growth through its unique five dimensions of "Blockchainisation":
- Scientific Research Outcomes: Sharing cutting-edge technology research.
- Compliance Web3 Technology Platform FINNOSafe: Providing plug-and-play compliant technology infrastructure.
- Tokenization Solutions: Mature products and practical experience.
- Rich Project Implementation Experience: Avoiding detours for startups.
- Funding and Market Matching: Assisting in customer and ecosystem expansion.
These five pillars form a comprehensive support system from technology and compliance to commercialization.
Talent Strategy: Local Focus with International Embrace
Regarding the goal of cultivating 200 local talents, Chen clearly states that the core is to build a local talent pool to support sustainable industry development, but the company remains open to talent from outside Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong's long-standing advantage is our ability to embrace and attract international talent, making it a melting pot for talent," he asserts. The best approach to retaining talent is not solely through corporate benefits but by turning Hong Kong into an open, inclusive, and thriving market, allowing talent to see long-term development incentives.
Dual Engine Drive: The Future of Web3 and GenAI Integration
Using the company's published "Banking Landscape 2030" white paper as a blueprint, Chen elaborates on how the two engines of "regulated Web3" and "generative AI" can collaborate. He envisions that future banking services must be 7x24, unrestricted by geography, faster, smarter, and lower-cost, relying on the interplay of these two disruptive technologies.
"We can expect that by 2030, the Alpha generation will start entering the workforce… their requirements for banking and financial services will include Web3 x GenAI." To this end, Forms Syntron has developed the compliant Web3 platform FINNOSafe and the bank-exclusive intelligent FINNOSmart platform, empowering financial institutions to embrace the future.
The Keys to Success and Future Moat
Reflecting on the past eight years, Chen attributes Forms Syntron's success in Hong Kong to three key elements:
- A commitment to supporting Hong Kong's development and investment in tech talent.
- Leveraging the dual advantages of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to form a scalable fintech production line.
- Integrating Eastern and Western technology systems while possessing a deep understanding of the operation of the financial industry and international regulations.
In the face of increasingly fierce competition ahead, he believes that the path of integrating industry expertise, scaling talent supply, and deep regulatory practice is the company's strongest moat.
RWA Breakthrough Path and FINNOSafe's Compliance Advantages
Discussing the breakthrough path for RWA, Chen observes that successful tokenized assets, such as green bonds and money market funds, share common features of standardization, regulation, and pricing transparency. He reveals that the FINNOSafe platform has already assisted multiple financial institutions in achieving mBridge, eHKD, tokenized deposits, and money market fund projects, successfully completing real-time PvP and DvP settlements on-chain, laying a solid foundation for the industry.
With the enactment of the "Stablecoin Regulation," competition for compliant Web3 solutions has intensified. Chen points out that FINNOSafe's core competitiveness lies in "compliance": "We utilize Web3 technology to incorporate necessary compliance functions required by regulatory and financial institutions, enhancing cybersecurity, and ensuring seamless integration with banking systems, allowing Web2 and Web3 technology systems to interconnect."
AI Transformation: Empowering Employees, Not Replacing Them
Regarding the recent global phenomenon of "AI layoffs" and "boomerang employees," Chen’s perspective is clear and resolute: "AI does not replace humans; it only replaces employees who are unwilling to use AI."
He acknowledges that technological transformation will lead to shifts in job types, but the key is whether businesses and employees can turn challenges into opportunities for upgrading. "The purpose of our developed FINNOSmart intelligent agent is to make it easier for bank employees to effectively use AI technology, significantly improving productivity, thereby giving companies more room to grow. In this positive development trajectory, more job opportunities will be created."
Forward Outlook: Pragmatic Response to the AI Boom, Firm Investment in the Future
Finally, addressing the "AI bubble theory" in capital markets, Chen demonstrates a pragmatic approach as a technology practitioner. He believes that the operational models of Wall Street and the substantial development of the tech industry diverge, and as a fintech company, the core concern is whether technology can create substantial value for financial institutions.
"One thing is certain: the development of AI is just beginning… there is still plenty of room for growth." He concludes that Forms Syntron's FINNOSmart solution adheres to the principles of "financial industry professionalism, large language model independence, and the flexible combinability of intelligent agents," aimed at assisting banks in better navigating the uncertainties of technological development, steadily progressing toward a new era of intelligent finance by 2030.
