A senior Hong Kong financial regulator and a legislative council member have withdrawn from the high-profile Bitcoin Asia 2025 conference after Eric Trump, the son of U.S. President Donald Trump, was announced as a keynote speaker. The event, scheduled for August 28 and 29 in Hong Kong, is considered one of the most significant gatherings for the global cryptocurrency industry.

Eric Yip Chee-hang, executive director at Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission, and legislator Johnny Ng Kit-chong were both originally listed as speakers. However, their names were quietly removed from the official schedule after sources reported a directive advising local officials and lawmakers not to attend if the event featured Eric Trump.

This decision underscores the heightened political sensitivities Hong Kong faces as it seeks to advance its ambitions as a cryptocurrency hub amid ongoing U.S.-China tensions. Since the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, trade friction and new tariffs have complicated the city’s position, with Hong Kong now confronting steep trade barriers in addition to the complexities of digital asset regulation.

The withdrawal of these officials highlights the challenge of balancing international engagement in the fast-developing crypto sector with the broader diplomatic realities that shape Hong Kong’s policymaking. Though both Yip and Ng cited personal reasons, sources indicate their absence was closely tied to the potential controversy of being seen alongside the Trump family, whose deep involvement in both U.S. politics and Bitcoin initiatives has drawn scrutiny.

Despite this, the conference will proceed with Eric Trump as a headline speaker, while other Hong Kong regulators, such as Clarence Shen of the Securities and Futures Commission, have been added to the program. Nonetheless, the episode reflects the delicate line Hong Kong must walk as geopolitical rivalries increasingly influence its financial and technological aspirations.