iFX EXPO Asia 2026 day one: Hong Kong’s financial and fintech community comes together for a packed opening day
A busy exhibition floor, high-level discussions and thousands of face-to-face conversations set the tone as iFX EXPO Asia 2026 officially gets underway at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The first exhibition day of iFX EXPO Asia 2026 brought the global trading, fintech and financial services community together in Hong Kong for a full day of business meetings, industry discussions, networking and new connections.
With professionals arriving from across Asia and international markets, the opening day demonstrated the depth and diversity of the region’s financial ecosystem, bringing together brokers, banks, fintech companies, payment providers, liquidity providers, technology firms, digital asset businesses, investors and other financial services professionals under one roof.
Across the exhibition floor, 150+ exhibitors showcased solutions and services spanning trading technology, payments, liquidity, infrastructure, financial services and digital assets, giving attendees the opportunity to meet decision-makers and product teams face-to-face.
Among the companies represented were IC Markets, Equiti Capital, MetaQuotes and PLAE, alongside a broad community of established businesses and emerging players shaping the future of financial markets.
A Busy Expo Floor With Business at the Centre
From the moment the exhibition opened, the floor was active with scheduled meetings, booth visits and spontaneous introductions.
Attendees moved between exhibitors to discover new technologies, compare solutions and discuss potential partnerships, while companies used the opportunity to meet existing clients and connect with new prospects from across the APAC region and beyond.
For many participants, the value of the first day went beyond discovering products.
Face-to-face conversations were at the centre of the experience, with meetings turning into deeper discussions around market expansion, technology, payments, liquidity, partnerships and business growth.
The atmosphere reflected an industry keen to make the most of being together in person, with busy stands, packed meeting areas and networking continuing throughout the day.
AI, Stablecoins and the Future of Finance Take the Stage
The conference programme brought some of the most important developments shaping financial markets into focus.
The day opened with “Hong Kong, Now: Presented by Bloomberg & Hong Kong Gold Exchange,” featuring Lucita Ng of Bloomberg and Larry Poon Ka Yeung of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, an advisor to the Hong Kong Gold Exchange.
The discussion highlighted Hong Kong's position within the evolving financial landscape and provided an important perspective on the market from both financial media and academia.
Payments and digital assets were also high on the agenda during “The Next Payment Rail: Are Stablecoins Ready for Prime Time?”
Moderated by Emil Chan of the Hong Kong Digital Finance Association, the session brought together perspectives from LetKnow Pay, Triple-A, Coins.ph, J.P. Morgan and OSL Group, examining the growing role of stablecoins and how new payment rails could influence the movement of money across markets.
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence took centre stage in “AI Meets Finance: Who Is Actually Winning the AI Race?”
Moderated by Neil Tan, the session featured perspectives from Capital.com, WeLab, Control Risks, Clifford Chance and Hang Seng Indexes Company, exploring the rapid adoption of AI across financial services and the question of where the technology is delivering genuine competitive advantage.
Other sessions throughout the day examined prediction markets, hybrid trading firms and the development of tokenized asset markets, reflecting an industry navigating rapid changes across technology, regulation and financial products.
From AI to Tokenization: The Trends Shaping the Conversation
Across the conference stages and exhibition floor, several themes consistently emerged.
Artificial intelligence remains one of the biggest areas of investment and discussion, but conversations are increasingly moving beyond adoption towards practical applications, competitive advantage and the risks associated with implementation.
Stablecoins and digital assets continue to develop as financial infrastructure, with industry participants examining their potential role in payments and cross-border money movement.
At the same time, tokenization, new trading models and evolving market structures are creating new opportunities for businesses looking to adapt to changing customer expectations and financial ecosystems.
The conversations taking place in Hong Kong reflected a market that is not simply discussing what comes next — but actively looking at how to build it.
Business Connect Keeps Meetings Moving
Away from the main stage, 1:1 Business Connect provided a dedicated environment for professionals to meet potential clients, partners and business contacts.
These curated meetings gave participants the opportunity to discuss specific business priorities, explore potential collaborations and move conversations beyond introductory meetings.
Combined with exhibitor meetings, roundtables and networking across the venue, Business Connect helped ensure that the event remained firmly focused on real business opportunities alongside industry insights.
Roundtables Bring the Industry Closer
The event’s roundtables offered another way for professionals to engage with the issues affecting their businesses.
In a more focused and intimate setting, participants were able to share experiences, exchange perspectives and discuss common challenges with peers from across the industry.
Together with the larger conference sessions, the roundtables created a programme that allowed attendees to move between big-picture industry trends and practical, business-focused conversations.
Celebrating Innovation Across APAC
The UF AWARDS APAC 2026 Ceremony provided one of the day's standout celebratory moments, recognising companies, leaders and innovators making an impact across the region's online trading industry.
Against the backdrop of a busy exhibition, the ceremony offered an opportunity for the industry to come together and celebrate the businesses and individuals contributing to its continued development.
The First Day Sets the Tone for What Comes Next
As the first exhibition day came to a close, the energy across the venue remained high.
From packed exhibitor stands and scheduled business meetings to conference sessions, roundtables and conversations that continued long after sessions ended, Day One demonstrated the strength of the industry's appetite for face-to-face connection.
For attendees, the day offered a combination of business opportunities, market intelligence and direct access to some of the companies and professionals shaping financial services across APAC and beyond.
But the event is far from over.
One Day Down. One More to Go.
iFX EXPO Asia 2026 continues tomorrow, 9 October, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The final day will bring another full programme of conference sessions, exhibitor meetings, Business Connect appointments and networking opportunities as the industry continues the conversations that began today.
On-site registration remains available for professionals who want to join iFX EXPO Asia 2026 in Hong Kong.
One day down. One more day of connections, conversations and opportunities to go.