On March 13, Amber Premium, Amber Group’s institutional crypto financial services and solutions provider, successfully listed on Nasdaq under the new ticker "AMBR," becoming the first Singapore-based and one of Asia’s earliest crypto enterprises to list on Nasdaq. On March 28, at 3:45 PM Eastern Time, the Amber Premium team rang the closing bell at Nasdaq’s headquarters in Times Square, New York, celebrating the successful listing and marking the start of a new chapter in its growth.

This listing is a milestone for Amber Premium and amplifies the crypto industry’s presence in mainstream finance. In a CNBC interview on March 28, Wayne Huo expresses enthusiasm about how the listing paves the way for strategic partnerships and acquisitions. Last week, MetaEra exclusively interviewed Amber Group Co-Founder and Amber Premium CEO Wayne Huo in Hong Kong, where he recounted the brand’s journey.

Located at the pinnacle of Hong Kong’s tallest building, International Commerce Centre (ICC), Amber Premium’s office overlooks the panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, symbolizing its leadership in institutional crypto finance. The firm is building a secure bridge for institutions and high-net-worth individuals to access the world of crypto finance, sparking a financial revolution.

Entering the Crypto Markets as A Regulated Institution

As a co-founder of Amber Group, Wayne recalls the journey beginning in 2015, “Amber Group’s founders all hail from top Wall Street firms like Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg. At the time, I was a trader at Morgan Stanley, focused on short-term trading but eager to explore long-term investments. With an undergraduate degree in mathematics and a graduate degree in finance, I was drawn to transformative technologies, which gradually led me to blockchain.”

In 2015, Bitcoin faced a bear market and widespread skepticism due to market irregularities. “Although our understanding was limited at the time, we recognized that blockchain and Bitcoin represented innovation and information asymmetry, which meant greater opportunities. In 2017, we founded Amber AI (later rebranded as Amber Group) and entered the crypto industry.” Amber Group emerged as a regular army in a once-chaotic crypto market, gaining credibility through professional, compliant, and high-end services.

From its inception, Amber Group has been rooted in Hong Kong, aligning its growth with the city’s evolution as a global financial hub. In 2021, Amber Premium, the digital wealth management department of Amber Group, began garnering industry attention. With its exceptional institutional-level trading execution, comprehensive investment products, and seamless crypto payment solutions, Amber Premium became an independent entity in 2023, positioning itself as a leading provider of institutional-level crypto financial services and solutions.

“What Sets Amber Premium Apart?”

Wayne highlights three key strengths, “First, our founding team’s institutional background ensures rigorous financial training. Our commitment to compliance and asset security ensures we offer clients the most professional investment advice and solutions.”

“Second, we offer a comprehensive and diverse range of investment products. While more institutions and high-net-worth investors have recently begun allocating to crypto assets, they often start with basic tools like ETFs and Bitcoin. We provide institutional-level market access, trading execution infrastructure, and investment solutions, spanning blockchain technology innovation, decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, asset tokenization, and structured investment products, empowering institutions and high-net-worth clients to optimize their digital asset portfolios.”

“Third, from a security standpoint, we deliver the safest trading services. Headquartered in global financial hubs like Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong, Amber Premium strictly adheres to KYC/AML compliance requirements and employs automated risk monitoring systems and institutional-grade asset protection measures. We provide a secure, compliant investment environment, ensuring the safety and stability of client assets, allowing clients to invest in crypto finance with confidence. In data security, Amber Premium invests heavily in team development, case studies, and risk prevention to ensure the safest investment environment for clients.”

Precision and Professionalism in Service

In October 2022, the Hong Kong SAR issued the “Policy Statement on Development of Virtual Assets in Hong Kong”, widely regarded as the starting point for Hong Kong’s embrace of Web 3.0. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is steadily advancing toward becoming the world’s largest cross-border wealth management hub and a top destination for family offices in Asia, with favorable policies further empowering Amber Premium. As of January 2025, Amber Premium manages over $1.6 billion in assets, serving more than 3,000 institutional investors and high-net-worth clients with professional, efficient institutional-level digital asset investment solutions.

Wayne highlights Amber Premium’s comprehensive offerings: full-stack trading execution solutions, including institutional market access, automated execution, and OTC trading; comprehensive wealth management solutions such as structured investment products, DeFi yield solutions, strategic funds, and crypto-backed collateralized lending; and seamless crypto payment solutions, including fiat on/off-ramps and the exclusive Amber Premium crypto payment card. These solutions provide convenient capital flow channels, break down barriers between digital assets and traditional finance, expand use cases for digital assets, and enhance their value.

“In wealth management, while we can’t predict market movements with precision, our experience and technical tools allow us to reduce risks and enhance returns. For example, Bitcoin presents potential yield opportunities in centralized exchanges and decentralized smart contracts, but it also carries risks. We identify reasonable yield opportunities and use algorithms to balance risk and return, offering tailored wealth management solutions. Clients can achieve returns in crypto assets, and we can further manage risks with derivatives or adjust positions to hedge during volatile markets. Importantly, we customize solutions based on each client’s risk tolerance and investment goals. For instance, in Q4 2024, when market sentiment surged after the U.S. presidential election and Bitcoin reached new highs, we recommended structured options to proactively reduce exposure and manage risk. In Q1 2025, as Bitcoin pulled back, we advised clients to sell puts or use accumulators to rebuild positions. We provide timely, professional advice tailored to different market conditions.”

Wealth Management: Be a Friend of Time

From a short-term trader to a long-term believer in digital assets, Wayne remains convinced that technological breakthroughs will profoundly impact global financial systems, legal frameworks, and even government operations. He views the current Bitcoin pullback as a mere “halftime break.”

“Since its inception, Bitcoin has served as a hedge against monetary over-issuance. If you examine Bitcoin’s long-term price trends, they closely correlate with the liquidity of the world’s four major central banks. When M2 (broad money supply) denominated in USD declines, Bitcoin’s price often underperforms. From a macro-seasonal perspective, the current price performance is just a ‘halftime break.’ Over the long term, central banks will likely continue printing money, driving Bitcoin’s sustained growth. Recently, several public companies have increased their Bitcoin holdings, further reinforcing its scarcity, making it an essential component of future asset allocation.”

“Other blockchain applications are less mature and popular than Bitcoin due to incomplete infrastructure. However, I believe that future technological breakthroughs will make digital assets transformative and innovative for global financial systems. This motivates Amber Premium to actively engage in building new projects, adopting new technologies, and collaborating with governments, industry leaders, traditional financial institutions, and media. As a bridge, we are committed to serving clients while advancing industry progress and development.”

At the third “Hong Kong Crypto Finance Forum,” Amber Group will partner with MetaEra to discuss cutting-edge trends and compliant applications in crypto finance and Web 3.0 technology, fostering global industry dialogue and cooperation. Wayne, alongside Amber Group’s CEO and Amber Premium’s CMO, will share insights and engage with industry guests at the forum. Stay tuned for more.

About Amber International Holding Limited

Amber International Holding Limited (Nasdaq: AMBR) is a leading provider of institutional crypto financial services & solutions, operating under the brand name "Amber Premium." As a subsidiary of Amber Group, it provides institutional market access, execution infrastructure, and investment solutions to help institutions and high-net-worth individuals optimize their digital asset portfolios. Amber International offers a regulated, scalable financial ecosystem powered by proprietary blockchain and financial technologies, AI-driven risk management, and quantitative algorithms across CeFi, DeFi, and OTC markets.

Disclaimer:

The provision of Amber Premium’s products and services is subject to regulatory approvals, regional restrictions, and compliance requirements in relevant jurisdictions. Certain products or services may not be available in some regions.