PANews reported on February 20th, citing Xinhua News Agency, that at the Hong Kong Gold Exchange's Lunar New Year Gold Opening Ceremony and 2026 Lunar New Year Opening Ceremony, Chan Ho-lim, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, stated that the SAR government is fully committed to promoting Hong Kong as an international gold trading center to further diversify Hong Kong's international financial business. Chan said the goal is to expand gold storage in Hong Kong to over 2,000 tons within three years, making Hong Kong a regional gold reserve hub. Regarding the promotion of commodity trading, 15 London Metal Exchange-approved warehouses are currently operating in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Gold Exchange will also deepen its connections with the Guangzhou Futures Exchange and other commodity markets in mainland China.

Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives and Senate met with cryptocurrency industry leaders in three separate roundtable events this week. Members of the US Congress met with key figures in the cryptocurrency industry to discuss issues and potential laws related to the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve and a market structure.On Tuesday, a group of lawmakers that included Alaska Representative Nick Begich and Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno met with Strategy co-founder Michael Saylor and others in a roundtable event regarding the BITCOIN Act, a bill to establish a strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve. The discussion was hosted by the advocacy organization Digital Chamber and its affiliates, the Digital Power Network and Bitcoin Treasury Council.“Legislators and the executives at yesterday’s roundtable agree, there is a need [for] a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve law to ensure its longevity for America’s financial future,” Hailey Miller, director of government affairs and public policy at Digital Power Network, told Cointelegraph. “Most attendees are looking for next steps, which may mean including the SBR within the broader policy frameworks already advancing.“Read more

