Solana President Sees Asia As Core For Global Tokenized Asset Growth

TLDR

Table of Contents

Liu said blockchains work best in open and tokenized capital markets.
Asia is seen as the core region for blockchain growth, not a frontier.
Liu backed revenue-based models over governance tokens for networks.
She proposed tokenizing all assets to support global capital access.

At Consensus Hong Kong 2026, Solana Foundation President Lily Liu presented a clear vision for blockchain’s future—focused on finance, not experiments. Speaking with Michael Lau, Chairman of Consensus, Liu outlined her plan for Internet Capital Markets that prioritize global asset access and sustainable growth.

Focus on Finance Over Broad Tech Experiments

During a fireside chat at Consensus Hong Kong 2026, Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, emphasized a clear stance. She stated that blockchain technology should center around finance rather than broad “web3” applications.

Liu explained that open and tokenized capital markets are where blockchains perform best. “Blockchains are not about everything, they are about markets,” she said. Her comments showed support for blockchain’s role in democratizing access to global assets.

"If Solana doesn't do it, nobody will."@SolanaFndn President @calilyliu on why Solana is the only L1 with a real shot at becoming the peer-to-peer electronic cash system. pic.twitter.com/o6iGoO4Ibv
— Solana (@solana) February 11, 2026

She explained that tokenized markets can power everything from everyday payments to complex high-frequency trading. This, she argued, could create a global and unified system for asset creation and participation.

Asia as the Core Market for Crypto Expansion

Liu also identified Asia as the most critical region for blockchain’s continued growth. She described Asia not as a frontier but as crypto’s “core market,” pointing to its history with Bitcoin and its vast user base.

She noted that the region’s population size and talent pool make it a natural leader for blockchain adoption and infrastructure development. Solana, she added, aims to serve this region with scalable and neutral infrastructure that supports billions of users.

The remarks came as industry leaders continue to seek geographic regions with strong developer communities and favorable regulation. Liu’s statements positioned Asia at the center of this search.

Pushing for Revenue-Based Blockchain Models

Liu made clear her preference for revenue-driven network models over the current trend of governance tokens. She said that networks must prove real usage and create value from activity, not from speculative token voting systems.

“We must stop pretending that governance tokens alone are enough,” she said during the session. Liu suggested that the only way to ensure long-term network health is to focus on usage and revenue as performance indicators.

Her comments aligned with ongoing debates in the crypto space, where projects are shifting focus from token launches to active user engagement and real economic models.

Global Asset Tokenization and Talent Access

Liu also discussed the potential of blockchain in tokenizing all assets worldwide. She said this approach could simplify access to capital for individuals and organizations alike.

She pointed to early ICOs as the beginning of this trend, and noted that newer methods now allow for even faster fundraising. Liu believes this could unlock access to capital and talent across borders.

She concluded that the true benefit of blockchain is enabling open capital formation, something that most traditional markets struggle to support. She positioned this as a social and economic development opportunity for regions often left out of global finance.