On August 21, 2025, CIEL Deputy Director Professor  Yueh-Ping Yang was invited by Cathay Financial Holdings to attend the “2025 Cathay Financial Holdings Digital Asset Trends Forum,” where he served as both a moderator and a panelist. Drawing on perspectives from law and financial regulation, Professor Yang provided an in-depth analysis of the institutional challenges and policy issues arising from the development of digital assets.

This forum marked the first large-scale public forum on digital asset–related topics organized by a domestic financial institution in Taiwan. Director Brenda Hu and Deputy Director Yi-Chun Shih of the Financial Supervisory Commission’s Department of Development and Innovation were also invited to deliver keynote speeches and participate in panel discussions. Following the forum, Cathay Financial Holdings released the “Digital Asset Trends Insights” report, to which Professor Yang contributed a column sharing his research perspectives and policy recommendations.

Professor Yang’s participation in the forum focused on two key sessions:
1. As a panelist in the session “Innovation in Virtual Asset Custody Services and Anti-Money Laundering,” Professor Yang offered a comparative analysis of domestic and international legal frameworks, highlighting the strategic importance of virtual asset custody services in financial institutions’ expansion into related businesses. He further examined the respective institutional roles and comparative advantages of financial institutions and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in the area of custody services.
2. As the moderator of the session “Regulatory Considerations and Future Challenges for Financial Institutions Operating VASP Businesses,” Professor Yang facilitated dialogue among perspectives on digital financial business development, regulatory compliance practices, and external financial supervision. The discussion explored priority areas for financial institutions in developing virtual asset businesses, the corresponding internal control and risk management mechanisms required, and expectations regarding financial laws and regulatory frameworks.

The forum focused on key topics including real-world asset tokenization (RWA), stablecoins, and virtual asset custody, and brought together financial institutions, domestic and international industry representatives, and regulatory authorities to engage in substantive discussions on future trends and institutional design in the digital asset market. Professor Yang’s participation underscores CIEL’s long-standing commitment to research in digital financial law and its continued role in bridging academia, public policy, and industry practice.

Forum video website: https://reurl.cc/8bZ7Yy
Digital Asset Trends Insights report: https://reurl.cc/W8ZWb9