HSBC plans Hong Kong AI research institute with blockchain and post-quantum focus

The bank wants to double its Hong Kong AI team to 300 specialists as it reassures local regulators about its Singapore ambitions HSBC is building a new research institute in Hong Kong, and artificial intelligence is the headline act. Blockchain and post-quantum cryptography are also on the bill. The bank announced the plan on October 15, 2026, with operations slated to begin in early 2027. The move positions Hong Kong as HSBC’s central hub for AI investment and decision-making across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. The timing is notable. HSBC is also building an AI center in Singapore, a decision that drew regulatory concerns from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). So this announcement doubles as research strategy and diplomatic gesture. The details: 35 experts to start, 300 on the horizon The institute will launch with an initial group of at least 35 experts. Their first areas of focus are AI applications, post-quantum cryptography, and blockchain technology. That institute sits inside a larger AI operation already running in the city. David Liao Yi-chien, HSBC’s co-CEO for Asia and the Middle East, said the bank’s Hong Kong AI team currently numbers 150 specialist...