In this Global Market Bulletin exclusive, host Leyla Gulen sits down with Tony (Kai) Zhou, Chairman of Waton Financial Limited (NASDAQ: WTF), for an in-depth conversation on the company’s post-IPO trajectory, its fast-expanding regulated brokerage footprint, and how artificial intelligence and digital assets are reshaping Waton’s next chapter in Hong Kong and across global markets.
The episode opens with Waton’s 2025 Investor Overview, spotlighting the firm’s transformation from a traditional securities brokerage into a multi-vertical fintech platform with deep regulatory foundations. Operating in Hong Kong under SFC Type 1, 4, 5, and 9 licenses, Waton sits at the intersection of traditional and digital finance, offering brokerage, asset management, and technology infrastructure solutions to institutions and emerging fintech players.
Topics Covered in the Interview Include:
Waton’s core revenue engines in brokerage, asset management, and fintech software, and how its SFC-regulated structure positions it as a trusted participant in Hong Kong’s capital markets.
Strategic priorities following its April 2025 Nasdaq IPO, ranging from expanded technology investment and talent acquisition to the pursuit of new license categories that deepen cross-market access.
Insights from Waton’s global AI strategy launch unveiled during its Nasdaq bell ceremony, including how the company plans to support algorithmic traders, quant funds, and AI-driven investment entities.
The firm’s accelerated entry into digital assets, highlighted by the appointment of Lead Web3 Scientist Junfeng Qin and the formation of a Crypto Advisory Board chaired by industry veteran Arben Kane.
How Waton’s Broker Cloud SaaS platform enables licensed brokers to white-label trading, settlement, and back-office infrastructure across Hong Kong, U.S., and A-share markets, reducing operational friction across jurisdictions.
Waton’s internal compliance culture, including the “gate check” system that balances innovation with regulatory discipline, cybersecurity requirements, client-data protections, and AI governance.
Key investor narratives from Waton’s non-deal roadshow and the major operational milestones expected across 2025 and 2026.
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About Waton Financial Limited (NASDAQ: WTF)
Waton Financial is a Hong Kong–based fintech and securities group operating under SFC Type 1, 4, 5, and 9 licenses. The company provides cross-market brokerage, investment advisory, and asset management services while powering the financial ecosystem through technology infrastructure solutions. Its Broker Cloud SaaS platform delivers settlement engines, data integration layers, and white-label software to licensed brokers operating across Hong Kong, the United States, and mainland China.
Anchored by a disciplined compliance framework and a forward-leaning technology vision, Waton aims to modernize the brokerage experience through AI-enhanced trading solutions, digital asset innovation, and secure, regulatory-aligned financial systems that serve both institutions and emerging investors.
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