China could challenge US digital asset lead via Hong Kong, American Treasury chief warns


US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he โ€œwould not be surprisedโ€ if China is already looking into ways to challenge the USโ€™ pre-eminence in digital assets, given Hong Kong’s efforts to develop the industry.

When testifying before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, Bessent said that there are โ€œlots of rumours of Chinese digital assetsโ€ possibly being backed by something other than its currency yuan, such as gold, but that the US could not confirm such claims.

โ€œWe donโ€™t know that for sure,โ€ Bessent said, answering Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummisโ€™ question about whether China is trying to use digital assets and blockchain to โ€œbuild an alternative to American financial leadershipโ€.

โ€œThey have a very large sandbox in Hong Kong, and the [Hong Kong Monetary Authority] is actively travelling the world, looking at different mechanisms,โ€ Bessent said. โ€œSo I would not be surprised.โ€

Bessentโ€™s comments reflect US President Donald Trumpโ€™s goal to make the US the โ€œcrypto capital of the worldโ€ and to prevent China from becoming competitive in the space.

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