With the rapid development of the digital economy on a global scale, emerging technologies such as Web3, virtual assets, and blockchain are profoundly transforming the business and legal ecosystems. To help legal professionals, enterprises, and relevant stakeholders understand the trends in the digital economy and grasp the legal practices and risk management in the Web3 sector, Longan (Guangzhou) Law Firm in Beijing specially organized a “Longan Digital Economy: Web3 – A New Frontier for Lawyer Services” thematic salon event on October 23, 2025.
Lawyer Hao Hao, senior partner at Longan Guangzhou and senior expert advisor at the Longan Bay Criminal Prevention and Control Research Center; Lawyer Chen Wenxin, partner at Longan Guangzhou and a registered foreign lawyer in Hong Kong; Lawyer Ou Yingshi, partner at Longan Guangzhou and director of the Longan Guangzhou Sanctions and Anti-Dumping Committee; and Lawyer Chen Zhongtao, member of the Longan Guangzhou Youth Working Committee and a lawyer in the Guangdong Province’s Foreign-related Lawyer Talent Pool, will give thematic presentations. Lawyer Chen Huan, head of the Longan Guangzhou Digital Economy Department and director of the Longan Bay Artificial Intelligence Law Research Center, will serve as the host of this event.
Lawyer Chen Huan
Head of the Longan Guangzhou Digital Economy Department and director of the Longan Bay Artificial Intelligence Law Research Center
Lawyer Chen Huan first extended a warm welcome to all lawyers participating in this event. He said that this event was jointly initiated by the Longan Guangzhou Digital Economy Department and Lawyer Wu Rangjun, director of the Longan Bay Intellectual Property Rights Research Center. It incorporated the latest research results from lawyers from institutions and departments such as the Longan Bay Criminal Research Center and the Longan Guangzhou Sanctions and Anti-Dumping Committee. The event analyzed the market opportunities, legal practices, and risk management in the Web3 sector from various perspectives, including concept understanding, criminal risks, Hong Kong license applications, and new opportunities in Middle East Web3. He looked forward to the excellent presentations by Lawyer Chen Zhongtao, Lawyer Hao Hao, Lawyer Chen Wenxin, and Lawyer Ou Yingshi.
Thematic Presentations
Lawyer Chen Zhongtao
Member of the Longan Guangzhou Youth Working Committee and a lawyer in the Guangdong Province’s Foreign-related Lawyer Talent Pool
Lawyer Chen Zhongtao delivered his first thematic speech on the topic of “Introduction to Web3 and Virtual Currency Concepts”. In the face of the emerging digital economy trend, Lawyer Chen clearly established a “legal framework” for lawyers, guiding participants to understand the evolution and opportunities in the Web3 world from a legal perspective. He started with the evolution from Web1 to Web3, explaining how the core concept of “reading, writing, and ownership” in Web3 reshapes network ownership. Based on this, he clarified the core aspects of blockchain and compared its different applications in mainland China (such as judicial evidence preservation) and overseas (such as asset issuance). Then, Lawyer Chen systematically outlined the various categories of virtual assets, analyzed the core applications and exchange ecosystems of Web3, and emphasized the current trends in RWA and the large-scale “U.S. tokenization” trend. Finally, Lawyer Chen returned to legal practices, through a professional interpretation of global regulatory policies and China’s “three red lines”, precisely outlined the business areas that law firms can expand in the new Web3 sector, including compliance and license applications, civil and commercial dispute resolution, criminal compliance and defense.
Lawyer Hao Hao
Senior partner at Longan Guangzhou and senior expert advisor at the Longan Bay Criminal Prevention and Control Research Center
Lawyer Hao Hao shared his thoughts on the “Reflection on a Cross-border Spouse’s BTC Theft Case during Marriage – and the Criminal Risks of Handling Virtual Currencies and RWA Business”. Lawyer Hao started with a cross-border spouse’s BTC theft case, briefly described the formation of China’s unique virtual currency regulatory system, and analyzed the profound impact of the “924 Notice” from four dimensions: industry, regulation, civil law, and criminal law. Then, Lawyer Hao, using recent cases, analyzed the evolution of judicial attitudes from the perspective of administrative regulation in civil cases and the determination of criminal property attributes. Subsequently, Lawyer Hao, combining the frameworks of major countries regarding virtual currency disposal, and the relevant regulations in mainland China and Hong Kong, shared his views on the chaos and standardization of virtual currency disposal over time, as well as future models. Finally, Lawyer Hao and the guests discussed the possible criminal risks associated with the emerging RWA business.
Lawyer Chen Wenxin
Partner at Longan Guangzhou and registered foreign lawyer in Hong Kong
Lawyer Chen Wenxin focused on “Licenses Related to Hong Kong Virtual Asset Business”. First, she introduced the three main authorities responsible for virtual assets in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Hong Kong Customs, and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. She also explained the application paths for four types of licenses: operators of virtual asset trading platforms, fund managers of virtual assets, intermediaries that trade or provide advice on virtual assets, and intermediaries that distribute virtual asset-related products. Lawyer Chen believed that virtual assets are not only present in the virtual world but also related to the real world. To meet the legal service needs of clients related to virtual asset business, it is essential to focus on issues such as license applications and compliance advice.
Lawyer Ou Yingshi
Partner at Longan Guangzhou and director of the Longan Guangzhou Sanctions and Anti-Dumping Committee
Lawyer Ou Yingshi focused on the theme “New Opportunities in Middle East Web3 – What Should You Pay Attention To?” She first analyzed the laws, regulations, and supervision in the UAE regarding virtual currencies. Then, Lawyer Ou shared in detail the regulatory scope and core compliance obligations of the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). She mentioned that the VARA clearly defines and strictly regulates virtual assets through a series of compliance documents. Subsequently, Lawyer Ou detailed the technical governance and compliance requirements related to virtual currencies by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), as well as the strictly prohibited behaviors, and shared in detail how to obtain cryptocurrency licenses in the UAE.
This “Longan Digital Economy: Web3 – A New Frontier for Lawyer Services” thematic salon event focused on the legal practices in cutting-edge areas such as Web3, virtual assets, and blockchain. It not only demonstrated Longan lawyers’ professional expertise in the digital economy but also reflected the latest explorations of the Longan Guangzhou Data Economy Department in cutting-edge fields like Web3. In the future, Longan Guangzhou will use the Digital Economy Department as a core platform to continuously deepen its professional capabilities in Web3 and digital assets, providing clients with more forward-looking and professional legal solutions, and helping enterprises thrive in the global digital economy.