HSC Conference Panel Maps The Path For Tokenized Deposits, Cross-Border Settlement, And Vietnam’s Role In The Digital Asset Economy
In Brief
HSC panel “Moving Beyond Pilots” maps blockchain’s path to production finance, tokenized money and Vietnam’s digital asset role.
On August 15, the HSC Conference returned to Ho Chi Minh City, gathering senior voices from financial institutions, technology firms, and venture capital to debate blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and the future of on-chain financial markets. One of the standout sessions was “Moving Beyond Pilots into Real Financial Infrastructure,” featuring Julie Pham of Varmeta, Dr. Minh Nhat Nguyen of RMIT University Vietnam, Ivan Postavskyy of Centrifuge, Jeffrey Tchui of Hashgraph, and Mai Kaneko of DCP Co., Ltd.
The panel explored why institutional interest has shifted from asking whether blockchain works to determining how it integrates with existing financial workflows. Speakers examined how tokenized deposits, stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies can coexist as complementary instruments within tomorrow’s monetary system. They concluded by considering why Vietnam, with its world-leading crypto adoption rates and deeply integrated manufacturing economy, is uniquely positioned to serve as the region’s proving ground for production-grade distributed ledger technology.
From Proof of Concept to Production
The conversation opened by examining why institutional interest in digital assets has accelerated so markedly in recent years. Jeff Chew of Hashgraph argued that the shift is fundamentally human. “Adoption is human, it’s not technology,” he observed, noting that regulatory readiness, institutional maturity, and technology finally graduating from pilot phase have converged to create genuine momentum. Professor M from RMIT University echoed this, explaining that the dialogue has moved beyond asking whether blockchain works to asking how it can integrate into existing digital infrastructure. As one panelist summarized, institutions are no longer questioning if assets can be tokenized; they are asking whether blockchain can adopt institutional workflows.
Tokenized Money and Regulatory Clarity
A significant portion of the discussion centered on the evolving landscape of tokenized money. Mai of DCP detailed Japan’s journey with tokenized deposits, explaining that clearer regulatory frameworks—particularly the 2023 Payment Services Act—have given banks the confidence to move from experimentation to live implementation. He emphasized that tokenized deposits and stablecoins are not mutually exclusive competitors but complementary instruments that will likely coexist alongside central bank digital currencies. Ian of Centrifuge reinforced this institutional pivot, describing how demand has shifted from speculative crypto exposure toward secure, liquid, onchain treasury products such as tokenized T-bills and collateralized loan obligations.
Frictionless Cross-Border Infrastructure
The panelists devoted considerable attention to the practical mechanics of payments and capital flows. Jeff Chew framed the issue around friction: end users simply want transactions to settle quickly and reliably, regardless of whether the underlying rail is traditional or blockchain-based. He pointed to the Japan-Vietnam corridor—where workers face significant friction remitting salaries home—as a concrete example of where hybrid onchain-offchain solutions can deliver immediate value. The consensus was that future infrastructure will not replace legacy systems overnight but will enhance them, particularly for cross-border settlement and last-mile payment delivery.
Vietnam as a Proving Ground
Finally, the panel turned to Vietnam’s distinctive role in the regional ecosystem. Jeff Chew highlighted the country’s young, talented workforce and its transition from a production-based to a services-oriented economy, arguing that robust capital market infrastructure and trusted financial data layers will be essential to attracting long-term foreign investment. Professor M offered a compelling counterpoint to the idea that Vietnam should simply emulate Singapore or Hong Kong: given its world-leading crypto adoption rates and its deeply integrated manufacturing and export economy, Vietnam is uniquely positioned to serve as a “real economy proving ground” for blockchain innovation. The panel agreed that success will depend on regulatory alignment, clear accountability frameworks, and continued collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
For anyone interested in the intersection of policy, technology, and institutional finance, this panel offers a nuanced and grounded perspective on where digital assets are heading—and why Southeast Asia may be the place where theory finally meets practice.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.
About The Author
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
More articles
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
