On February 19th, Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) introduced the ASPIRe roadmap to position the city as the global cryptocurrency hub. The strategy aims to address challenges such as regulatory arbitrage, market volatility and fragmented liquidity, while advancing blockchain technology development.
The roadmap includes 12 initiatives across five categories, each designed to improve compliance, optimize blockchain efficiency, and enhance market access. Compared to other parts of the world, the SFC emphasizes the growing role of institutional investors into the digital assets arena, continuing to blend decentralized finance (DeFi) with traditional financial avenues.
As the market expands and gains greater acceptance, new sectors, including real-world assets (RWAs), PayFi, and consumer apps, are gaining prominence. In response, Jsquare, a research and tech-focused investment firm specializing in blockchain and Web3 technology, just launched its latest project, the Jsquare Pioneer Fund.
With $50 million in capital already raised, the new fund will focus on emerging areas in the Web3 and crypto ecosystem, having already made its first investment in MinionLabs, a decentralized network of autonomous AI agents. Based in Asia, Jsquare’s new fund bridges the gap between the East and West, constructing partnerships between the UAE, Japan, the United States, South Korea, and the ASEAN bloc.
The fund was established by Joanna Liang, founding partner of Jsquare, who brings extensive experience as CIO of DFG, the global Venture Capital firm specializing in crypto and Web3. Additionally, James Wo, CEO and Founder of DFG, joins Pioneer Fund as a venture partner.
Compared to other VC ventures, the Pioneer Fund distinguishes itself by offering its portfolio companies a unique, hands-on approach to strategic guidance. While most VCs typically focus on financial investment, the Pioneer Fund goes beyond that by actively engaging in the daily operations and growth of its portfolio companies.
Joanna Liang, Founding Partner of Jsquare, shares: “The launch of Jsquare’s Pioneer Fund is a milestone for our journey of fostering growth across the entire blockchain ecosystem.”
The Pioneer Fund maintains a proactive presence through regular meetings and continuous collaborative efforts, working closely with its partners to address potential challenges. It also helps unlock new opportunities across areas such as product development, tokenomic design, marketing, and growth strategies.
With a strong network of more than 30 global partners and relationships with more than 20 top-tier exchange platforms, the Pioneer Fund is equipped to offer valuable resources to help its portfolio companies succeed locally and globally.
Joanna Liang adds: “We are excited to work with projects in high-potential sectors like RWAs and consumer apps, as we see these areas as significant opportunities for growth. Our commitment is more than providing the capital to these projects, as we strive to offer guidance and use our global network and connections to help projects become industry leaders.”
While the tech landscape is constantly changing, for the first time in a long time, the crypto ecosystem has the support of prominent figures who are actively shaping its future. With this support, it is only a matter of time before fresh ideas emerge, disrupting existing paradigms and continuing to disrupt the way investors think about finance and the digital economy.
