Recently, a piece of news has sent ripples through the finance and technology circles: entrepreneur Adrian Cheng announced the establishment of a digital asset company, ALMAD Group, to explore investments in digital assets, real-world asset tokenization, and other new opportunities. This move not only marks the official entry of a highly influential business leader into the Web3 wave but also signals that the integration of traditional capital and cutting-edge technology is entering a new phase.

For many, terms like "digital assets" and "tokenization" might still sound distant. Don't worry, this article will break them down for you, helping you understand the logic behind them and why they deserve our attention.

From Business Leader to Web3 Explorer: Who is at the Helm of ALMAD Group?

Before founding ALMAD Group, Adrian Cheng was widely known as a third-generation member of one of Hong Kong's most prominent business families. He stepped down from his core positions in family enterprises like New World Development in September 2024 to devote more energy to his personal ventures and social services. Throughout his business career, he has not only achieved remarkable success in traditional sectors but has also been a passionate explorer of art, culture, and new technologies. The K11 brand he founded is a successful embodiment of his "cultural-retail" concept.

In fact, this is not his first foray into the Web3 space. He had previously made early-stage investments in several innovative companies, including Xiaohongshu and XPeng Motors, through his personal capacity. It can be said that Adrian Cheng's background combines deep roots in traditional industries with a keen insight into future technologies. The mission of ALMAD Group, founded and led by him, is precisely to be the bridge connecting these two worlds, focusing on innovation in areas such as digital assets and Real-World Asset Tokenization (RWA).

Why It Matters: The Deeper Significance of Traditional Power Entering the RWA Market

You might wonder, is it such a big deal when a heavyweight figure enters a new field? The answer is a resounding yes, especially when the focus is on "RWA."

RWA stands for "Real-World Asset Tokenization." Simply put, it's the process of using blockchain technology to convert valuable real-world assets—such as an office building, a famous painting, or even a corporate loan—into "tokens" that can be freely traded in the digital world.

Imagine you own a house. It's highly valuable but has poor liquidity; you can't easily sell a small fraction of it like you can with stocks. RWA acts like a tech magician, "breaking down" the ownership of this house into a million pieces, each becoming a digital certificate recorded on a public, transparent, and immutable shared ledger (the blockchain). From then on, anyone can more conveniently buy or sell a few of these pieces, greatly enhancing the asset's liquidity.

The entry of traditional giants brings unparalleled credibility and resources to RWA. Their participation signifies that this emerging field is accelerating from a niche experiment for geeks to the spotlight of the mainstream market. According to forecasts from institutions like the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the global RWA market size is expected to reach $16 trillion by 2030, demonstrating immense growth potential.

Business Unveiled: How ALMAD Group is Strategizing in Digital Assets and RWA

According to public information, ALMAD Group's core business will revolve around investments in digital assets, RWA, and related new opportunities. We can understand its potential strategy from the following aspects:

1. Real-World Asset Tokenization (RWA): This is undoubtedly its strategic core. ALMAD Group may leverage its extensive resources and experience in real estate, infrastructure, and other sectors to explore the possibility of bringing these high-quality physical assets "on-chain." For example, tokenizing partial income rights of its commercial properties or providing new financing channels for green energy projects.

2. Digital Asset Investment: Beyond RWA, the company will also explore broader digital asset investment opportunities. This could include investing in companies that provide key technologies and services for the Web3 world, such as blockchain security firms and data service platforms.

3. Exploration of Technological Solutions: ALMAD Group will also focus on the application of blockchain technology and immersive digital experiences across various industries. This implies that its vision extends beyond financial investment to empowering physical industries with technology and creating new business models.

Landscape and Outlook: What New Opportunities Will ALMAD Group's Establishment Bring to Hong Kong?

The birth of ALMAD Group coincides with a historic opportunity as Hong Kong fully embraces Web3 and the digital economy. In recent years, the Hong Kong SAR government has clearly stated its goal to build the city into a leading global digital asset hub.

On June 26, 2025, the Hong Kong government released the "Policy Declaration on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong 2.0," systematically proposing a series of specific measures such as optimizing legal and regulatory frameworks, expanding tokenized products, and promoting application scenarios. The declaration demonstrates the government's determination to advance tokenization and build a digital asset ecosystem integrated with the real economy and social life.

Against this backdrop, the establishment of ALMAD Group is perfectly timed. It can not only bring valuable capital and physical industry resources to Hong Kong's digital asset ecosystem but is also poised to become a "super-connector" linking mainland assets with international capital. This could foster more innovative financial products and services, thereby solidifying Hong Kong's leading position as an international financial center.

Understanding the Opportunities and Challenges of the RWA Track

Facing the emerging RWA track, maintaining a mindset of learning and understanding is crucial. The following content is intended to help you form an objective perspective and does not constitute any form of guidance.

Seeing the Opportunities: The Potential Transformations of RWA

• Enhanced Liquidity: Allows traditionally "illiquid" assets like real estate and art to be easily divided and traded.

• Lowered Barriers to Entry: Through "fractionalization," ordinary people can access high-quality asset classes previously available only to large institutions.

• Increased Transparency: Based on blockchain technology, every transaction and ownership change is traceable, reducing information asymmetry.

• Bridging Physical and Digital: The value of RWAs is directly anchored to real-world assets, injecting greater stability and predictability into the digital economy.

Understanding the Challenges: Key Areas to Watch

• Legal and Compliance: Ensuring that on-chain digital tokens have clear and robust legal validity tied to off-chain physical assets is the primary challenge for RWA. Regulatory policies worldwide are still evolving.

• Technology and Security: Robust technology is needed to guarantee the authenticity of asset data, prevent fraud, and ensure the security and stability of the entire system.

• Asset Valuation and Verification: How to conduct fair and credible valuations of real-world assets and reflect them transparently on-chain is key to building market confidence.

In conclusion, the entry of traditional forces, represented by Adrian Cheng and ALMAD Group, is opening a new chapter for the world of digital assets. For the average person, this is not just a noteworthy business development but also an excellent window for learning and understanding the future direction of financial technology. Staying informed about industry dynamics and deeply understanding the underlying technology, compliance frameworks, and potential challenges is a crucial step to staying synchronized in this emerging field.

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