Legal Debate on Tokenized Pre-IPO Shares Heats Up Consensus Hong Kong 2026

The hot topic of tokenized pre-IPO shares sparked intense legal discussions at the Consensus Hong Kong 2026 conference. Experts and regulators clashed over the jurisdictional and compliance frameworks needed for this emerging asset class. The debate centered on whether existing securities laws can adapt to blockchain-based equity tokens or if entirely new regulations are required. Proponents argue tokenization increases liquidity and access for retail investors, while critics highlight significant risks of fraud and market manipulation. The outcome of this legal debate is crucial for the future of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) convergence, potentially impacting major crypto markets and assets like BTC and ETH.