A leading intergovernmental advisor is issuing a stark warning to nations racing to adopt Bitcoin: building massive reserves without a solid policy foundation is like building on sand. Speaking at Bitcoin Conference Asia 2025, author and blockchain advisor Anndy Lian urges governments to prioritize international cooperation and deliberate groundwork over the headline-grabbing rush to accumulate. He argues that without shared standards and a deep understanding of decentralized finance, the global crypto ecosystem risks derailing its own journey.
Key Points
- Foundations Before Reserves: Lian argues that foundational policies on regulation, education, and infrastructure must precede the accumulation of national Bitcoin reserves, calling the rapid U.S. approach an exception, not a global template.
- A Call for Global Coordination: Criticizing the current “siloed” approach by governments, he calls for a new international body for digital assets, similar to the BIS for banking, to establish baseline regulatory standards for all nations.
- Understanding Decentralization is Critical: Lian warns that policymakers’ widespread ignorance of DeFi and decentralized networks is dangerous, stressing that these systems must be recognized as legitimate and central to the future of finance.
“You Can’t Build a Bitcoin Economy on Sand”
During the panel “Global Game Theory: The Response to America’s Changing Bitcoin Policy” at Bitcoin Conference Asia, Lian delivered a measured yet powerful perspective on the global landscape. While many focus on national reserves and rapid adoption, he emphasized the need for strategic patience and foundational policy work, warning that ambitious Bitcoin initiatives risk collapse without it.
Lian acknowledged the momentum generated by the United States’ pro-Bitcoin shift. “I love what America is doing right now,” he said. “The Genius Act, the strategic reserve, the market structure legislation—it’s all moving at godlike speed.”
But he quickly added a caution. “That speed is not replicable everywhere. If you zoom out and look at Asia, most countries are still in catch-up mode.” He noted that while some nations are exploring reserves, the majority are focused on more basic steps like asset tokenization and stablecoin regulation.
For Lian, this slower pace is a necessity. “You can’t build a Bitcoin economy on sand,” he stressed. “Every country needs to build the foundation first—regulation, education, institutional frameworks—before jumping into strategic reserves.”
A Call for Substance Over “PR”
Lian also criticized superficial policy engagement, which he sees as a significant roadblock.
“Right now, you see people flying in, shaking hands, taking photos. CZ comes to Singapore, everyone celebrates. But that’s not policy making. That’s pure PR.” He called for deeper, sustained dialogue between governments and industry experts who can navigate the complexities of custody, compliance, and decentralized networks.
One of his most urgent messages was the need for global coordination to end the confusion caused by nations acting in isolation. “Governments are working in silos,” he said. “What we need is a body, like IATA for aviation or the BIS for banking, that leads a basic regulatory framework for digital assets.” He envisioned a world where every country contributes to shared minimum standards for exchanges, stablecoins, and custody.
Lian also urged policymakers to take decentralized finance seriously. “Most governments have no clue what DeFi is. They think it’s where criminals hide. That ignorance is dangerous.”
Lian issued a final warning and a call to action.
“Stablecoin is not just about Tether or Circle. It’s a new monetary layer. And decentralized networks are not fringe—they are the future. If we don’t build the right policies now, we won’t just miss the train—we’ll derail the entire journey.”
For Lian, the Bitcoin revolution is not won by who accumulates the fastest, but by who understands the deepest and builds the smartest.
The full panel discussion can be viewed on YouTube.
Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.
Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.