June 26, 2025
By Iris Shu Liu and Joe Pan
Memes and virtual assets are going mainstream in Hong Kong, as crypto firms tap the tried-and-true playbook of using listed companies as vehicles—a strategy fintechs have long favored. Is MemeStrategy the start of a new wave for listed companies pivoting with renaming to highlight the crypto wave?
MemeStrategy Inc. (HK02440), formerly Haojing Technology, is now Asia’s first publicly listed virtual asset company aiming to capture the wave of meme economy, thanks to a controlling acquisition and rebrand by 9GAG co-founder Ray Chan. The company’s partnership with 9GAG for MemeDay and the inaugural “Meme 69 Awards” marks a step forward in connecting meme culture with the global Web3 community.
Ray Chan is a 41-year-old tech entrepreneur, born and raised in Hong Kong. He is a graduate of the University of Hong Kong. Chan is also the co-founder of 9GAG, a humor-focused social media platform with the mission to make the world happier. Earlier this year, on April 2, Chan completed the acquisition of Haojing Technology. He officially renamed the company Memestrategy on June 9.
Ray Chan, Chairman and CEO of MemeStrategy said, “MemeDay has evolved into an annual festival. From 10 locations last year, we’ve grown to 13 cities worldwide, including Hong Kong, New York, London, Madrid, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Bangkok, celebrating humor and creativity. As one of the key organizers of this annual celebration, MemeStrategy strives to champion the power of humor and commitment in the fast-evolving world of digital assets, while staying true to our roots and forging ahead with purpose.”
The June 10 event drew over 1,000 participants worldwide, celebrating meme creativity and the spirit of MemeDay—an annual June 9 tradition since 2023. This year’s Meme 69 Awards, inspired by the iconic “69 meme,” brought together netizens to crown the year’s best memes, with results now live on the official site.
“Memes are at the core of both 9GAG and MemeStrategy. We celebrate all kinds of memes because they reflect cultures from around the world,” the company told reporters. With a market cap of HKD 400 million and a share price of HKD 2.00 as of June 14, MemeStrategy is betting big on the meme economy.
A signature MemeDay tradition? Gathering at McDonald’s—chosen for its global reach and playful “M”—to symbolize smiles and community, uniting meme lovers across 13 cities and cultures.
Hong Kong’s Meme Scene and Subculture
MemeStrategy has also noted on local meme culture or subculture driving by its film classics. Hong Kong’s meme scene is thriving, blending classic cinema with social media humor and decentralized innovation. Stephen Chow’s legendary comedies and cityscapes now fuel meme and NFT creativity.
“Aspects of Hong Kong cinema can be turned into memes, and the city’s landscapes can be adapted into NFTs,” said Zijun Wang, a recent finance grad and active crypto trader. “However, local trading institutions tend to prefer mainstream CFDs, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Meme coins are highly volatile and can lead to excessive speculation, which isn’t healthy for the market’s development,” Wang added.
“Meme for me is for fun and changes with culture, trends, and ‘heat of the moment’…will it survive? Not sure,” said Akina Ho, co-founder of AllWomen Dao and NFT and digital assets, has only ever bought Dogecoin at 5 cents.
Meilzza Anievas, co-founder of Women in Web3 Hong Kong and a self-described early adopter of PEPE and holder of SHIBA, DOGE, and BABYDOGE, is more bullish: “It proves that demand and cultural relevance go hand in hand in Web3. Meme is a subculture and makes economic sense for the Web3 community.”
In Web3, memes even shape market psychology. When prices tank, “Time to get a job at McDonald’s” jokes and memes—featuring golden arches and pancake flipping—become symbols of resilience and community.
About the Authors
Iris Shu Liu is a recent graduate of the HKBU Business and Financial Journalism Program. She was the winner for Best Business Reporting and Best Newspaper Design in the (2022) China Daily Campus Newspaper Awards (English Edition). She is currently an intern correspondent for National Business Daily (NBD), a China-based business daily newspaper with a readership and reach of 100 million.
Joe Pan, is an editor at Blockwind News and early adopter of blockchain technology. He has covered major crypto conferences globally since 2019 and moderated Web events across Asia. Joe is part of the founding team of Blockwind News and teaches Asia’s only accredited Master of Journalism course on “Covering Cryptocurrency and Blockchain” at Hong Kong Baptist University.
Anthony He researched and contributed to this story from Sydney Australia.
