- Hong Kong and Switzerland’s regulators recently solidified their cross-border cooperation during a dialogue in Bern.
- The event also focused on digital assets, AI in banking, and green finance initiatives.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) convened for the 8th Hong Kong-Switzerland Financial Dialogue in Bern on January 29, 2026. The event centered on improving the cross-border financial cooperation between their respective jurisdictions.
The HKMA and SIF Dialogue
The Dialogue was chaired by Darryl Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, and Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary of the SIF. Representatives from the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) also attended the event.
The parties shared data on regional and domestic economic outlooks, policy challenges, and latest regulatory and market developments. Meanwhile, a significant part of the discussions centered on strengthening their collaboration toward sustainable finance, fintech, and regulatory interoperability.
The fintech section of the talk particularly delved into the smooth cross-border movement of capital via digital assets, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into banking, and green finance frameworks.
Digital Assets in Hong Kong and Switzerland
Over the years, Hong Kong and Switzerland have emerged as the most prominent gateways to blockchain and digital asset innovation, including crypto and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). HKMA and SIF’s cooperation aligns their regulatory roadmaps, creating a seamless way for institutions to issue, trade, and settle assets across the Asian and European continents.
Switzerland has established a reputation as a pioneer in blockchain regulation, epitomized by its constitution of Crypto Valley in Zug. It has long served as Web3 and crypto’s hub in Europe.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s status as a special administrative region (SAR) of China gave it free rein in digital asset regulation, allowing it to maintain an independent trajectory from the mainland’s more restrictive approach. Leveraging that position made it a hub in Asia and one of the leading laboratories for innovations in the Web3 and crypto space.
AI in Banking
According to IBM, citing a McKinsey study, large banks were 40% less productive than digital natives. Hence, they are now being left behind by startups and emerging banks that are incorporating AI into their operations.
AI agents are a rising element in this pivotal era in banking and finance. These have evolved from simple, programmable chatbots into autonomous “digital employees” capable of handling more complex tasks beyond automation that require analytical thinking and reasoning. They can learn and adapt independently based on past interactions, automated data collection, and user-specified goals.
Green Finance
The World Economic Forum (WEF) defines green finance as any structured financial activity, whether a product or service, designed to achieve better environmental outcomes.
It can be in the form of loans, debt mechanisms, and investments, paving the way for the development of green projects, conservation or preservation of the environment, biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, energy efficiency, mitigation of pollution, minimizing the climate impact of businesses, and creation of a circular economy, among others.
