TL;DR - Bitcoin Asia 2026 just dropped its first speaker wave for August 27-28 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Balaji Srinivasan headlines, joined by Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich, macro investor Hugh Hendry, Strive CEO Matt Cole, and government officials from Hong Kong and Pakistan. Metaplanet is the title sponsor. The event expects 10,000+ attendees from 125+ countries.
Quick Answer: Bitcoin Asia 2026 takes place August 27-28 at HKCEC in Hong Kong. The first confirmed speakers include Balaji Srinivasan, Simon Gerovich (Metaplanet), Hugh Hendry, Matt Cole (Strive), Gracy Chen (Bitget), David Bailey (Nakamoto Inc.), and legislators from Hong Kong and Pakistan. Tickets and details at asia.b.tc.
Who's Speaking at Bitcoin Asia 2026?
BTC Inc., a subsidiary of Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA), announced the first speaker wave today for Asia's largest Bitcoin conference. The lineup spans institutional capital, government policy, and macro finance - a signal that the conference is positioning itself as the bridge between Eastern and Western Bitcoin markets.
Balaji Srinivasan headlines. The Network State author and former Coinbase CTO remains one of the most polarizing voices in Bitcoin and sovereign technology. His presence alone guarantees the kind of talks that generate post-conference discourse for weeks.
Simon Gerovich, CEO of Metaplanet and the event's title sponsor, brings Japan's most aggressive corporate Bitcoin strategy to the stage. As of Q1 2026, Metaplanet holds 40,177 BTC acquired for roughly $4.18 billion, making it one of the largest corporate holders globally. The company has publicly targeted 100,000 BTC by year-end.
Hugh Hendry, the former global macro hedge fund manager turned Bitcoin convert, adds an unusual perspective. Hendry built his reputation betting against sovereign credit and currency regimes. His public conversion to Bitcoin as a monetary asset carries weight precisely because he spent decades on the other side of the trade.
Government Officials Join the Stage
Two government speakers stand out.
Dr. Hon. Johnny Ng Kit Chong, a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, signals continued interest from HK lawmakers in maintaining the city's positioning as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction. Hong Kong has spent the last two years building a regulatory framework designed to attract digital asset businesses, and having a sitting legislator on stage reinforces that commitment.
Bilal Bin Saqib, Pakistan's Minister of State and Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, represents one of the more surprising additions. Pakistan has historically had an adversarial relationship with crypto. His appearance at the largest Bitcoin conference in Asia suggests a policy shift worth watching.
The Corporate Bitcoin Contingent
The speaker list reads like a treasury companies investor call.
Matt Cole, CEO of Strive (NASDAQ: ASST), has been buying Bitcoin aggressively since the company's strategy pivot. Strive now holds roughly 19,900 BTC - nearly four times its position from fall 2025. Cole has argued publicly that it's "almost irresponsible" for corporations not to hold Bitcoin.
David Bailey, CEO of Nakamoto Inc. (the conference's parent company), and Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, round out the institutional side. Additional speakers include Moon Inc. co-founder John Riggins, Web3Labs CEO Caspar Wong, and Diamond Hands co-founder Koji Higashi.
Also on the bill: Justin Sun, founder of TRON and advisor to WBTC and HTX, who brings the attention (and the controversy) wherever he goes.
What to Watch For
The programming centers on what BTC Inc. CEO Brandon Green called "the convergence of Eastern and Western Bitcoin ecosystems." Sessions will cover macro and monetary policy, corporate treasury strategy, Bitcoin infrastructure, and the regulatory landscape across Asia.
Bitcoin Asia 2026 expects 10,000+ attendees from 125+ countries for two days of main stage programming, investor sessions, and policy dialogue. Additional speakers will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Tickets are available at asia.b.tc. For our full list of upcoming Bitcoin events, check the 21Rates conferences and events calendar.
Sean Ristau | @SeanRistau | 21Rates / The Daily Stack