All Aboard the Bitcoin Express Says Max Keiser on Asian Capital Flight

Passed on June 30, 2020, the new law features 66 articles that affect many aspects of life in Hong Kong, including the potential for financial censorship by Beijing. The conditions for capital flight are ripe in the wake of this legislation.

Investors Move 10% of Their Gold From Hong Kong

Initially, things were quiet, but in the six weeks that have passed since the law was enacted, evidence and further speculation are beginning to mount. On Aug. 7, the Financial Times reported that wealthy Hong Kongers were trying to move gold offshore. The same article notes that some 10% of private holdings have been moved to safer jurisdictions such as Singapore or Switzerland since the beginning of protests. Some have even speculated that recent developments in the world’s 6th largest financial hub, have been responsible for bitcoin’s latest rally. In an August 10 tweet, well-known Bitcoin advocate and TV anchor Max Keiser argued that bitcoin is being used to move large amounts of money out of Asia.

Keiser’s point is underscored by the fact that leaving the region with large amounts of physical gold in tow is next to impossible. For instance, a Chinese national was recently detained trying to illegally cross into the U.S. with $28,000 worth of gold bars.

History Repeating Itself

Hong Kong citizens have started looking for hedges against a future clouded by an uncertain political climate. Liquidating assets into bitcoin is a logical move, but it’s worth noting that such actions are not without precedent. After the Sino-British Declaration of 1994, many assumed that Hong Kong would completely lose its autonomy. As a result, thousands of Hong Kongers emigrated to North America, the United Kingdom, or other western countries. And as they did, they purchased billions in real estate abroad to protect their wealth in the event of a crackdown. This time around, instead of real estate, they may be gobbling up bitcoin.