Leading VSFG to integrate traditional wealth management with the future of finance

Promoting and facilitating the development of Hong Kong as an International        Virtual Assets Centre and Green Finance Hub


16 May 2023 (Hong Kong) – To drive the strategic development of innovative financial services, 

Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited (hereinafter referred to as “VSFG” or “the Group”) 

officially announced the appointment of 

today. Dr. Lam will lead VSFG to integrate traditional wealth management with the future of finance, and fully support and collaborate with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in promoting and facilitating Hong Kong family office businesses and developing the virtual assets sector. This is not only to support Hong Kong's development into an International Virtual Assets Centre and Green Finance Hub, but also more importantly, to shore up the leading position of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.


Dr. Lam has been championing digital transformation, financial technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainable development, green finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments over the years. Dr. Lam had served as Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport, a part-time member of the Central Policy Unit of the HKSAR Government, a member of the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Re-industrialisation, a member of the Sir Murray MacLehose Trust Fund Investment Advisory Committee, and a non-official member of the Financial Services Development Council New Business Committee. Currently, Dr. Lam is a member of the Governance Committee of the Hong Kong Growth Portfolio of the HKSAR Government, a non-official member of the HKSAR Government Development Bureau Common Spatial Data Advisory Committee, Chair of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) Sustainable Business Network (ESBN), Chair of the ESBN Task force on Sustainable and Inclusive Finance, Vice Chairman of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), a member of the Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area Committee of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and Chairman of the Technology and Innovation Committee of the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce.


said, “I have accepted the invitation from Mr. Lawrence Chu, Chairman of VSFG, because we share the same vision for the future development of Hong Kong’s financial industry. We hope to create synergies to attract more family offices from overseas and the Mainland to set up in Hong Kong while also quickly driving the growth and development of virtual assets and green finance in Hong Kong, in order to help enhance the competitive edge of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.” VSFG is the first virtual asset manager in Hong Kong licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC"). Far back in 2018, VSFG already initiated a discussion with the SFC on full compliance between traditional and virtual assets to develop innovative financial services. This is in line with Dr. Lam’s view on enhancing Hong Kong’s unique competitive advantages as an international financial centre and promoting and facilitating financial technologies.


, also expressed his sincere appreciation to Dr. Lam for joining and supporting VSFG, “As a farsighted visionary, Dr. Lam has always been driving the integration of the new and traditional economies without neglecting the importance of regulations and corporate governance. As we strive to integrate traditional wealth management with the future of finance, we must achieve full compliance first while effectively linking traditional and virtual assets together. It is of utmost importance to put in place sound internal controls. As a solicitor of the High Court of HKSAR (formerly a member of Hong Kong Bar), a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators, the Hong Kong Institute of Directors and CMA Australia, and an Honorary Fellow of CPA Australia, Dr. Lam not only provides us with valuable constructive suggestions on laws and regulations and corporate governance, but also delivers strategic advice on the Group’s sustainable development policies, lifting our service offerings to the next level in a comprehensive manner.”


With his extensive industry experience in corporate governance, strategy consulting, policy advocacy, international cooperation, investment banking, direct investment and asset management, Dr. Lam will provide leadership for VSFG to fully leverage its strengths in participating in the development of Hong Kong as an International Virtual Assets Centre and Green Finance Hub, integrating traditional wealth management with the future of finance, creating new milestones for Hong Kong’s financial development going forwards.


Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited (VSFG) is a global financial services platform headquartered in Hong Kong.


VSFG strives to integrate traditional wealth management with the future of finance. In 2020, Venture Smart
Asia Limited, subsidiary of VSFG, became the first virtual asset manager in Hong Kong approved by HKSFC to
manage portfolios that may invest up to 100% of assets in crypto assets. VSFG is dedicated to the research and
development of products and services that can integrate traditional and virtual assets under a compliant
regulatory framework, helping individuals and institutions to allocate their assets in an orderly manner in both
traditional and virtual worlds. In addition, VSFG and its affiliated companies are committed to proactively
developing and delivering relevant services to promote the development of both family office businesses and


virtual assets, shoring up Hong Kong’s position as a global financial centre .
please visit www.vsfg.com.


Strategic Financial Relations Limited
Cindy Lung / Brigid Lee / Cynthia Ng
sprg_vsfg@sprg.com.hk


Dr. George Lam Officially Joins VSFG as Honorary Chairman

RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST), Venture Smart Financial Holdings Ltd (VSFG), the first virtual asset manager in Hong Kong approved by HKSFC, and Artifact Labs, a Web3 company on a mission to 'Preserve and Connect History on the Blockchain', today announced a partnership that will bring the RMS 

 and its physical artifacts into Web3 and fully unlock the intrinsic value of the associated intellectual property by tokenizing the assets.

This creative project will place the legacy of the 

in the hands of the global public by preserving assets from the ocean liner as immutable NFTs and by allowing inclusive participation in RMST, which holds the exclusive rights to recover artifacts from the wreck site. RMST's affiliate, Experiential Media Group (E/M Group), operates 

exhibitions that have been visited by over 30 million people worldwide.

VSFG will take the lead in structuring the tokenization of the intellectual property and also develop tokenized instruments for accredited investors, drawing on its expertise as a licensed virtual asset manager. This will enable compliant capital raising for the ongoing research, recovery, preservation, exhibition, and licensing of RMST's assets.

Artifact Labs will immutably preserve the approximately 5,500 recovered physical artifacts from the 

with its NFT standard for historical assets on the blockchain. Newly recovered relics from future expedition dives will also be minted as 'ARTIFACTs'. The 

NFTs will expand an engaged community of collectors who will contribute to the preservation of maritime history while unlocking exclusive benefits, including VIP events at exhibitions, seminars with historians, and privileged access to one-of-a-kind experiences. Additionally, 

enthusiasts to digitally interact with RMST's content outside of the physical exhibitions.

The debut collection will feature ultra-limited edition NFTs and its buyers will form the first of the 

DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) whose members will participate in select RMST and E/M Group initiatives, including proposals on future dive expeditions to the 

site, development of education programming, digital content and documentaries, research initiatives, partnerships, hosted events, and the strategic direction for the preservation and exhibition of recovered artifacts. The DAO treasury will be managed by members through governance tokens and will be funded by proceeds from 

Commenting on the partnership, the President of RMS Titanic, Inc., Jessica Sanders said, "We remain dedicated to sharing the legacy of the 

, her passengers and crew, with people around the world. As the salvor-in-possession of the 

 wreck site, we are determined to ensure that the Ship's artifacts are preserved in perpetuity and accessible to future generations. We believe that moving into the digital space allows us to reach a broader audience with quality programming that educates and inspires. We are excited to have found the expertise and partners to help us reach those goals."

Lawrence Chu, Founder and Chairman of VSFG, shares this passion; "The 

artifacts have been highly sought after for over a century because of what they represent. Many people in the international community care deeply about preserving the integrity of the original artifacts. We believe this partnership with RMST and Artifact Labs can further this purpose by bringing in Web3 and virtual assets solutions."

Gary Liu, Founder of Artifact Labs, said, "The 

is one of the most treasured pieces of history in the world, and we are privileged to be part of its story. This incredible project will forever preserve the ocean liner on the blockchain and further expand its impact and importance to a global audience. This partnership exemplifies the mission of Artifact Labs and we are delighted to now be among the 

RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST), a subsidiary of Premier Acquisition Holdings, LLC and an affiliate of Experiential Media Group 'EMG' LLC serves as the exclusive steward of RMS

 which tragically sank on April 15, 1912. The Company is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Ship, wreck site and all her passengers and crew. Since 1987, RMST has honorably conducted eight expeditions to the wreck of RMS

 exclusively recovering and conserving more than 5,500 artifacts as well as creating comprehensive maps and imaging of the wreck site.

Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited (VSFG) is a global financial services platform headquartered in Hong Kong. In 2020, Venture Smart Asia Limited (VSAL), subsidiary of VSFG, became the first virtual asset manager in Hong Kong approved by Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (HKSFC) to manage portfolios that may invest up to 100% of virtual assets. VSFG is dedicated to the research and development of products and services that can integrate traditional and virtual assets under a compliant regulatory framework, helping individuals and institutions to allocate their assets in an orderly manner in both traditional and virtual worlds, particularly in the areas of Web 3.0 and metaverse. In addition, VSFG is committed to proactively developing and delivering relevant services to support the development of Hong Kong as a global Virtual Assets Centre; the future of finance starts now.  

Artifact Labs is an independent Web3 and NFT company building blockchain strategies, products, and platforms that serve organizations with historical IP. The company is on a mission to 'Preserve and Connect History' on the blockchain, and enable all guardians of history to maximize the impact of their most valuable assets by tokenizing them as 'ARTIFACTs'. Artifact Labs is a one-stop solution for partners looking to launch unique NFT projects and build in Web3, providing support through advisory services, product development, blockchain engineering, and community management. All 'ARTIFACTs' are connected via a proprietary metadata standard that is governed by the non-profit Artifact Foundation, which allows for the verifiable authentication and global discovery of historical NFTs.

SOURCE Artifact Labs; RMS Titanic, Inc.; Venture Smart Financial Holdings

RMS Titanic, Inc., VSFG, and Artifact Labs Partner To Bring The Titanic Into Web3

Hong Kong (April 14, 2021) - Arrano Capital, its funds being advised/ managed by Venture Smart Asia Limited (“VSAL”), today announced the launch of Arrano Alpha Fund (and its single-legged feeder fund, together the “Fund”), Hong Kong’s regulated actively-managed virtual asset fund. The Fund is structured as a “single-legged” master-feeder structure domiciled in the Cayman Islands and primarily invests in blockchain sector, employing an active event-driven and arbitrage strategy. It may also invest in derivatives and other securities linked to digital assets or cryptocurrencies.

VSAL, subsidiary of Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited (“VSFG”), regulated entity in Hong Kong to receive a Type 9 asset management licence to manage a portfolio that invest in 10% or more of the gross asset value in virtual assets under the Securities and Futures Ordinance* in April 2020 (“Type 9 VA Licence”), acts as investment manager of the Fund, while Arrano Capital Management (HK) Limited acts as the technical adviser to the Fund. The Fund is the second virtual asset product advised/ managed in Hong Kong by VSAL, the first one being a passive Bitcoin fund launched in mid-2020.

“The objective of the fund is to generate consistent absolute returns while seeking to manage risk effectively and preserve capital in times of market uncertainty.” said Arrano Capital Chief Investment Officer Avaneesh Acquilla. “This fund targets Professional Investors and institutions**.”

The strategy that is being adopted by the fund is the culmination of experience managing cryptocurrency portfolios over the past three years and over a decade of equity long-short experience.

“The fund is designed from the ground up to meet the strict requirements of professional and institutional investors, using comprehensive security and risk management.” said Acquilla. “From our observations since the launch of the Bitcoin fund in mid-2020, I believe there is enormous potential for both passive and active virtual asset products.”

Arrano Capital’s goal is to develop the most innovative investment products while upholding the highest regulatory standards that meet the demands of professional investors seeking to gain access to virtual assets.  For more details, please visit: arranocapital.com.

Venture Smart Asia Limited (“VSAL”), a company incorporated in Hong Kong, is a licensed corporation regulated by the SFC of Hong Kong for types 1 (dealing in securities), 4 (advising on securities) and 9 (asset management) regulated activities pursuant to the Securities and Futures Ordinance. VSAL is licensed by the SFC to manage virtual asset funds (“Type 9 VA Licence”). The funds are available to Professional Investors only (as defined under the Securities and Futures Ordinance). VSAL is a member of Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited (“VSFG”). For more details, please visit: vsfg.com.

cindy.lung@sprg.com.hk
kay.lau@sprg.com.hk
cara.lau@sprg.com.hk

*VSAL shall comply with the “Proforma Terms & Conditions for Licensed Corporations which Manage Portfolios that Invest in Virtual Assets” (“T&C”) issued by the Securities and Futures Commission on 4 October 2019 and any amendments made to the T&C thereafter.

**Professional Investors are as defined under the Securities & Futures Ordinance. While for institutions, it is subject to the restrictions on distribution. The Shares may not be offered, sold, delivered, or otherwise transferred directly or indirectly in the United States.


Arrano Capital launches SFC regulated actively-managed virtual asset fund

Hong Kong –  3 March 2021 –  BC Technology Group (BC Group), Asia’s leading technology and digital asset company and parent of OSL Brokerage, the only SFC-licensed digital asset brokerage and trading platform for professional investors, announced today that it has signed an MOU with Venture Smart Asia Limited (VSAL), a Hong Kong-licensed asset manager and investment advisory firm, to provide brokerage and related services for VSAL’s Hong Kong-regulated digital asset funds (DigiTrackers Bitcoin and Arrano Alpha Fund). 

The agreement is the first collaboration between the first SFC-approved digital asset manager and BC Group, the parent company of the first SFC-licensed brokerage and exchange in Hong Kong.

Under the MOU, OSL will provide brokerage services, including trade execution and capital introduction services to the Arrano Alpha Fund. 

OSL and VSAL’s blockchain arm, known as Arrano Capital, will also explore opportunities to jointly create digital asset products.

“OSL has long been a regional leader in the digital asset prime brokerage space,” said OSL Head of Distribution and Prime, Matt Long. “As an SFC-regulated brokerage, cooperation with other regulated counterparties is a key part of our business strategy moving forward. Building on our prime brokerage’s leading liquidity and trading capabilities, we’re excited to service VSAL’s regulated funds in Hong Kong.”

In June 2020, VSAL’s Arrano Capital launched Hong Kong’s first regulated cryptocurrency fund, which provides professional investors investment exposure to Bitcoin through a traditional fund structure. VSAL is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to manage digital asset funds.

“The signing of the MOU with OSL comes at an inflection point in the development of digital assets,” said Arrano Chief Investment Officer, Avaneesh Acquilla. “As Bitcoin continues to gain momentum, institutional investors are rapidly entering the space in search of unique opportunities provided by this emerging asset class. We’re thrilled to be working with an institutional focused player like OSL to help us meet the growing needs of institutional investors.”

VSAL is Hong Kong’s first SFC-approved digital asset manager. This allows VSAL to manage portfolios that invest up to 100% of assets in crypto assets. Without such additional approval, asset management firms can only hold up to 10% of crypto assets in portfolios under management.	

The MOU signing follows OSL’s 15 December announcement that it was the first firm to receive a license from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission for Types 1 (dealing in securities) and 7 (automated trading systems) regulated activities for digital assets.

About BC Technology Group and the OSL Platform 

BC Technology Group (stock code: HK 863) is Asia’s leading public fintech and digital asset company. It is the parent company of OSL, the region’s most comprehensive licensed digital asset platform. 

OSL is the world’s first and only insured and SFC-licensed digital asset platform, providing brokerage, custody, exchange and SaaS services for institutional clients and professional investors.

The company offers OTC, iRFQ and electronic trading services giving traders access to the world’s deepest liquidity pools, as well as secure and insured wallets to ensure the safekeeping of digital assets with timely transaction settlement. 

BC Group and the OSL platform are enabling institutional adoption of the digital asset class, setting standards for performance, security and compliance.  

About Arrano Capital and Venture Smart Asia Limited				

Arrano Capital is the blockchain arm of Venture Smart Asia Limited (VSAL), which is a company incorporated in Hong Kong and whose registered office is at 23/F, Lee Garden Five, 18 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, and is a licensed corporation regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong for types 1 (dealing in securities), 4 (advising on securities) and 9 (asset management) regulated activities pursuant to the Securities and Futures Ordinance. VSAL is a member of Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited (VSFG). The products mentioned above are available to Professional Investors only (as defined under the Securities and Futures Ordinance).

BC Technology Group and Venture Smart Asia Limited Sign MOU,  OSL to be Brokerage Partner for HK-Regulated Digital Asset Funds 

- Arrano Capital, which is the blockchain arm of Venture Smart Asia Limited, today announced the launch of Hong Kong’s first regulated virtual asset fund. The fund, which tracks the price of Bitcoin, provides Professional Investors (as defined under the Securities & Futures Ordinance) access to Bitcoin through a traditional fund structure. Venture Smart Asia Limited, is licensed by the SFC to manage virtual asset funds.

“This fund comes at a pivotal time for Bitcoin. By bridging the gap between the
regulated finance and virtual asset world, institutions can gain secure access to Bitcoin via a conventional fund structure” said Arrano Chief Investment Officer Avaneesh Acquilla. “We worked in accordance with the SFC guidelines to create a product that is the first of its kind, meets the needs of investors and complies with the highest regulatory standards.”

Acquilla launches the fund following nine years at Och-Ziff Capital Management in Asia. Prior to that he spent seven years at Goldman Sachs and UBS in London.

“Our goal is to create an institutional grade product and, to achieve this, we are
exclusively operating with top tier counterparties” said Acquilla. The fund’s legal
advisers are the award-winning international law firms Simmons & Simmons and Ogier. BitGo Trust Company will be the fund’s custodian. Mainstream Fund Services and Grant Thornton have been selected to support on fund administration and audit services respectively.

The Bitcoin fund is the first of two approvals for Venture Smart Asia Limited, the second will be an actively managed fund scheduled for launch later this year.

“We decided to launch this fund to address market demand from professional investors who are increasingly focused on Bitcoin as an alternative store of value,” said Acquilla. “Going forward, we see enormous potential for further passive and active products.”

About Arrano Capital and Venture Smart Asia Limited

Arrano Capital is the blockchain arm of Venture Smart Asia Limited (VSAL), which is a company incorporated in Hong Kong and whose registered office is at 23/F, Lee Garden Five, 18 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, and is a licensed corporation regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong for types 1 (dealing in securities), 4 (advising on securities) and 9 (asset management) regulated activities pursuant to the Securities and Futures Ordinance. VSAL is a member of Venture Smart Financial Group (VSFG). The products mentioned above are available to Professional Investors only (as defined under the Securities and Futures Ordinance).

info@arranocap.com | www.arranocapital.com | www.vsfg.com

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