Chinese regulators are reportedly preparing to restrict mainland state-owned enterprises and banks from pursuing stablecoin and crypto initiatives in Hong Kong. Chinese internet giants, state-owned enterprises and financial institutions operating in Hong Kong may face restrictions on stablecoin and crypto activities. According to a Thursday report by local news outlet Caixin, mainland Chinese firms operating in Hong Kong may be forced to withdraw from cryptocurrency-related activities. The Hong Kong branches of several state-owned enterprises and Chinese banks are also expected not to participate in the race to obtain a Hong Kong stablecoin license. The news follows reports that HSBC and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank by total assets, plan to apply for stablecoin licenses in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s new stablecoin regulatory framework came into effect on Aug. 1 with a six-month transition period. Regulators said 77 institutions had expressed interest in applying. Re...
Dollar stablecoins control crypto’s financial rails, but regulated euro, yen and yuan alternatives are emerging to challenge the USD’s onchain monopoly. Opinion by: Jamie Elkaleh, chief marketing officer at Bitget Wallet Stablecoins started as a workaround for crypto traders. By pegging tokens to the US dollar, they created liquidity in a market that never closed. In just a few years, however, they have outgrown that role. The result is an onchain financial layer where dollar-pegged coins set prices, collateral norms and risk appetite. The danger lies here: Without the growth of credible, well-regulated alternatives in the euro, yen and offshore yuan, the US dollar's dominance will be locked into crypto’s foundation for years. Read more
The petition, made in July, reached more than half of the required signatures for a government response after Coinbase sent out a push notification to its users. A public petition calling on the United Kingdom to develop a pro-innovation strategy for blockchain and stablecoins has gained momentum following a push from crypto exchange Coinbase. The petition, hosted on the UK government’s website, calls for a comprehensive framework that includes stablecoin regulation, blockchain adoption and the appointment of a blockchain “czar.” Although launched in July, the initiative drew attention this week after Coinbase sent in-app messages encouraging users to sign. Screenshots shared by users on social media showed in-app messages from the exchange, rallying its users with phrases like “help UK lead stablecoin innovation now.” Read more