Partner at Clarient Advisory advising financial institutions and digital asset businesses on Hong Kong virtual asset licensing, regulatory architecture and regulated operating models.

Ryan leads Clarient’s Hong Kong virtual asset licensing strategy and regulatory architecture. His work spans licensing strategy, regulatory structuring and the design of regulated operating models for financial institutions moving onchain and digital asset businesses navigating regulated markets.

He has particular depth in Hong Kong virtual asset licensing, having advised across virtual asset-related licensed activities including dealing, advisory, asset management, trading platform and custody-related activities. His experience spans both the existing licensing regime and the evolving framework for virtual asset intermediaries, and he has advised on several of Hong Kong's most significant first-of-kind licensing approvals for intermediaries engaging in virtual asset activities.

His licensing work is grounded in hands-on transactional experience. In private practice he advised on crypto fund transactions and on the launch of Hong Kong's first spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, giving him a practical understanding of how licensing strategy, regulated operating models and product launches fit together across the lifecycle of an onchain business. Prior to joining Clarient, Ryan was Regional Compliance Counsel at a US law firm, where he advised financial services and virtual asset clients on Hong Kong licensing and regulatory matters.