Li Lin’s Trading Arm Targets Hong Kong Wealth Firm in New Crypto Push

Chinese crypto entrepreneur Li Lin is moving part of his private trading business into Hong Kong listed Bitfire Group, according to a Reuters report published on April 22. The deal would shift Avenir Group’s investment team and trading systems to Bitfire for $1.6 million, as the company pushes deeper into bitcoin linked wealth products.

The move marks another step in Li’s post exchange strategy after he sold his controlling stake in Huobi, now HTX, in 2022. Since then, he has focused on Avenir Group, his family office, which Reuters described as Asia’s largest investor in spot bitcoin exchange traded funds by the end of 2025. The report said Avenir held 18.3 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, valued at about $908 million at that time.

The planned transaction also comes as Hong Kong continues to position itself as a regulated digital asset center. That stands in contrast with mainland China, where crypto trading remains banned. Reuters said Bitfire sees room to build services for Hong Kong listed firms and other investors looking for regulated bitcoin exposure.

Bitfire plans bitcoin strategy

Bitfire is not only taking on a team and trading systems. It also plans to launch a regulated bitcoin denominated asset management product called Alpha BTC, Reuters reported. The strategy would use bitcoin linked derivatives, including options and products tied to BlackRock’s IBIT fund.

Bitfire CEO Livio Weng said the firm aims to attract more than 10,000 BTC in assets within a year. Based on Reuters’ report, that target would equal roughly $760 million at current prices. The company appears to be betting that demand will grow for products that offer more than simple spot bitcoin exposure.

Reuters also said Bitfire estimates that at least 40 Hong Kong listed companies already hold bitcoin. That creates a possible client base for wealth and treasury products tied to digital assets, especially as listed firms look for ways to manage those holdings inside a regulated structure.

Li Lin keeps a Hong Kong link

Li Lin still appears tied to Hong Kong listed crypto related companies. Sinohope Technology Holdings’ 2025 annual report listed him as chairman, confirming his formal role in a public company tied to the sector.

That detail matters because it shows Li is not operating only through private entities. Instead, he remains connected to Hong Kong’s listed market at a time when the city is trying to expand its role in digital asset finance.

Taken together, the Bitfire move points to a more structured push into regulated crypto wealth management. Rather than running trading activity only through a family office, Li now appears to be linking that business to a listed platform in Hong Kong.