During Hong Kong Fintech Week, ME CEO Jessica visited the CAI Building in Tin Hau, Hong Kong, to attend the opening ceremony of the new offices of licensed exchange EX.IO and interviewed its co-founder and CEO, Chen Wu. From compliant finance to RWA innovation and globalization strategy, EX.IO is building a new chapter for Web3 in Hong Kong.
Article author and source: 0xArthur, ME
ME CEO Jessica (left) and EX.IO co-founder and CEO Chen Wu (right)
Emerging Compliant Exchanges: EX.IO's Dual-Base Strategy from Sheung Wan to Tin Hau
"I'm Wu Chen from EX.IO, you can call me Chen'er," Wu Chen said with a smile as he began.
EX.IO is one of the 11 licensed virtual asset exchanges in Hong Kong. She stated that the emergence of EX.IO represents the Hong Kong virtual asset market's shift from a "licensed oligopoly" to a "diversified and innovative" model.
Currently, EX.IO supports trading in mainstream assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and USDC, and allows users to freely switch between bank accounts and digital wallets. "Within a strict compliance framework, users can safely allocate and invest their assets," she emphasized.
EX.IO, headquartered at 2/F, 308 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, is a licensed virtual asset exchange under the strict regulation of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. In the CAI Building in Tin Hau, EX.IO also houses its global ecosystem office—a space that symbolizes both the open innovation of Web3 and the professionalism of traditional finance. "We hope this space will become a bridge connecting traditional finance and Web3."
Screenshot from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission website
RWA Track: Making Compliance the Engine of Asset Innovation
When asked about EX.IO's business focus, Chen'er pointed out without hesitation that RWA (Real World Assets) will be the key direction for the future.
"Soon, everyone will see RWA products from Europe, America, and Hong Kong on our platform," she revealed.
These assets will be issued in a highly compliant manner, initially targeting professional investors, and then gradually opened to retail investors. "We hope that these products will not only be safe, but also truly accepted by large institutions, and ultimately benefit a wider user base."
Chen'er believes that RWA's core value lies in "injecting new vitality into traditional financial assets using blockchain technology"—EX.IO hopes to build a complete RWA ecosystem encompassing primary issuance, secondary trading, and full lifecycle management. "The cases we've worked on are all innovations that haven't been seen before in the market, and we hope to make technology truly generate financial efficiency."
From Hong Kong to the Global Market: Landing in the Middle East and Establishing Licenses in Multiple Locations
In addition to Hong Kong, EX.IO is also actively pursuing its internationalization strategy. "We have obtained licenses in the Middle East, and our team and office have been established," Chen'er shared.
Jessica described EX.IO as "the starting point for launching from the CAI Building and moving towards a global footprint."
Chen'er stated that EX.IO will focus on three major strategies as its core development axis in the future.
- Global compliance strategy : Continuously apply for and obtain regulatory approvals in more regions, and launch investment products that comply with local regulations.
- Deepen the RWA ecosystem : connect the entire chain from issuance to trading, and promote the digital transformation of traditional securities assets.
- Building a smart financial ecosystem : Collaborating with AI, DeFi, and smart agent platforms to explore innovative scenarios within a compliant framework.
"We hope that EX.IO is not just an exchange, but a compliant Web3 ecosystem facing the world," she said. "We want Hong Kong's compliance standards to become the benchmark of trust in the world."
The Hong Kong Spirit: Compliance, Innovation and Global Trust
EX.IO's compliance features are not only its market access pass, but also the core value of its brand.
"Our products and services have undergone rigorous review by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, with the strictest standards applied to everything from security and risk control to user experience," Chen'er said with a smile. "You could say they've been subjected to a rigorous review process, like being skinned alive hundreds of times."
She believes that this stringent regulatory environment is actually a competitive advantage. "Hong Kong is one of the most compliant places in the world, which gives institutions and investors real peace of mind."
EX.IO is positioned to leverage Hong Kong, one of the world's most regulated markets, to export compliance and trust globally. "We hope EX.IO will become a calling card for Hong Kong's Web3 industry to the world, representing the city's professionalism and trustworthiness."
Conclusion: A Compliant Grand Route to the Global Market
From its headquarters in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, to its global ecosystem office in Tin Hau, and from its Hong Kong base to its expansion into the Middle East, EX.IO is embarking on its own global voyage with compliance as its sail and innovation as its rudder.
In this new Web3 cycle, compliance is no longer a constraint, but a bridge connecting the world; Hong Kong is not only the world's most stringent regulatory hub, but also the starting point for connecting global capital and innovation.
"We hope this big ship can set sail from Hong Kong and let more people see the power of compliant Web3," Chen'er said.
As EX.IO's direction becomes clearer, a global transformation initiated at the CAI Building is accelerating.
