2026-01-17 05:34:09

An interesting funding news is going viral—Hong Kong fintech group WeLab just announced the completion of a $220 million Series D funding round (equivalent to over HKD 1.7 billion). Where did this money come from? More than half of it is from banks. Participating investors include Prudential Hong Kong, Fubon Bank (Hong Kong), Hong Kong Investment Management Company, TOM Group, and Allianz Group, among others.

It’s worth noting that WeLab itself is one of Hong Kong’s eight virtual banks and is also a founding member of the Hong Kong Web3 Association. Last year, it also received $260 million in credit support from Citibank. What does this new round of funding reflect? The attitude of traditional banking institutions toward the Web3 fintech sector is quietly shifting—they are no longer on the sidelines but are starting to invest real money. What does this mean for the entire Hong Kong Web3 ecosystem? What are your thoughts?

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TommyTeacher

· 01-20 05:01

Banks are really starting to shift from watching to betting, and Hong Kong is playing this game quite smartly.

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WenAirdrop

· 01-19 23:36

Banks are coming in to buy the dip, now the "illegal" label for Web3 needs to be changed.

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GovernancePretender

· 01-19 17:44

Traditional financial giants are starting to take it seriously. This is either a good sign or the last frenzy. --- Wow, banks are directly investing? It seems the virtual banking route has indeed been proven successful. --- Hong Kong's move is brilliant—using traditional finance to back Web3, perfectly avoiding regulatory awkwardness. --- Wait, Citibank only invested 260 million last year, and now a bunch of banks are participating? Are they genuinely optimistic or just afraid of being left behind? --- Honestly, it's still about having too much money and nowhere to put it. Web3 has now become a wealth management tool for them. --- Virtual banks are essentially fintech, and WeLab's position is truly unique. --- Hong Kong is playing for real. The dream of becoming Asia's Web3 hub is getting closer. --- Banks are here now, so those still criticizing Web3 for "scalping" need to wake up. --- The funding amount isn't particularly exaggerated, but the significance of the participating investors is the key. --- This marks the beginning of the official army’s entry. The ecosystem is迎来第二春 (entering a second spring).

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MysteryBoxOpener

· 01-18 11:30

Damn, traditional finance finally can't sit still anymore. Now that banks are directly getting involved, they are really playing for keeps. --- Hong Kong is moving quickly. Virtual banks combined with Web3 dual identities—no wonder they can attract funding. --- Wait, Citibank raised 260 million last year and now another 220 million. This fundraising pace is pretty aggressive. --- Investing in more than half of the banks indicates what? It means institutions are really optimistic about this direction, not just talking. --- WeLab is indeed impressive this time. Holding both a virtual banking license and a Web3 identity, they are thriving in the middle. --- Traditional banks have truly chickened out. They used to ignore crypto, now they are throwing money in. I just wonder if this will have a reverse impact on the entire ecosystem. --- 220 million USD, brother. With this scale of funding, Hong Kong Web3 is definitely gaining momentum. --- What's interesting is that banking groups are all investing in virtual banks' Web3 businesses. The logical chain is just perfect. --- But to be honest, do banks really understand Web3, or are they just following the trend to make money? I'm a bit worried.

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GetRichLeek

· 01-17 06:02

Wow, the banks are really starting to step in? Isn't this a signal? Why am I still bottom-fishing in the air...

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NFTDreamer

· 01-17 06:00

Ha, traditional banks are really pouring real money into Web3 now. This shift is indeed quite rapid. Banks aren't fools. They see opportunities and place their bets. Hong Kong's recent moves are quite interesting. WeLab's fundraising pace is extremely steady. Having both a virtual bank and Web3 dual identities is a strong move. Wait, does this mean regulatory attitudes are also softening? Otherwise, banks wouldn't dare to push back so aggressively. Wow, 1.7 billion HKD. That's a big deal. No wonder it's making headlines. The signal of banks entering the market is more valuable than anything else. An ecosystem is just around the corner. The combination of Citibank and Prudential feels like Hong Kong Web3 is about to take off.

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FastLeaver

· 01-17 05:50

Banks are finally unable to sit still and are really starting to bet on Web3 --- Wait, did banks take more than half of this funding round? Traditional finance is really waking up --- Citibank invested 260 million last year, and now with this lineup... it really feels like the attitude here in Hong Kong is changing --- Virtual bank + Web3 Association member, this combination of identities is quite unique --- The key is that major banks like Prudential and Fubon are involved, this is not small-scale play --- Is Hong Kong’s Web3 ecosystem about to rise? Or do the banks just want a share of the pie --- From watching from the sidelines to directly betting, this shift is indeed quite fast, there must be a reason behind it

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FlippedSignal

· 01-17 05:45

Traditional finance is really starting to pour money in, and the actions here in Hong Kong are getting faster and faster. --- Honestly, banks banding together to invest in virtual banks is a bit extreme. --- With this round of financing for WeLab, it feels like Hong Kong is really about to rise. --- Wait, they are already virtual banks themselves and still seeking bank investments? That logic is quite interesting. --- But to be fair, if traditional banks are willing to invest, it proves the market is indeed shifting. --- Is the spring of Hong Kong Web3 here? Or is it just another bubble? --- Looking at this list of investors, all the major banks are here. Didn't expect that. --- Citibank is giving 260 million, and now another 220 million. This pace is a bit crazy. --- I'm a bit curious about where they will really spend this money. --- Traditional finance entering the scene = regulatory friendliness? Or just wanting a share of the pie.

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WagmiAnon

· 01-17 05:39

Traditional financial giants are finally dropping the act and going all in on Web3? Hong Kong's move is pretty bold. But honestly, do banks really understand Web3 or are they just trying to make a quick buck... A staggering HKD 17 billion poured in—are they genuinely optimistic or are they being forced to enter? WeLab's timing for this funding round is impeccable, with its virtual bank identity and Web3 theme, naturally positioning it as a beneficiary of Hong Kong's policy incentives. Wait, half of the funding comes from banks... does this mean they have no other options left? If you want to eat this Web3 piece of the pie, you have to do it now. The signals that traditional finance is embracing crypto are becoming increasingly clear, but we're worried that upcoming regulatory changes might trap them.

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DeFiCaffeinator

· 01-17 05:34

Wow, traditional finance is really starting to get involved. This signal is quite strong. --- Banks betting on Web3 themselves? This shows that the big players have long seen through it. They were just pretending not to see before. --- $220 million, half of which comes from banks... Hong Kong's move is still quite steady. --- Don't just look at the funding numbers; the key is the attitude shift of major players like Citibank and Prudential. That's the real inflection point. --- Virtual banks + Web3 Association, WeLab's identity is indeed a bit special, as it has already stepped into two worlds. --- For those still asking whether Web3 has a future, just look at this funding list. The answer is right there. --- The Hong Kong team responded quite quickly this time, even more promptly than Singapore. There's something there. --- The entry of traditional finance is already happening. As for how it will develop further, it depends on whether regulators give the green light.

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