Hong Kong | Crypto

Hong Kong police say a 66-year-old retiree was duped three times in six months by self-styled “crypto investment experts,” as scammers promised easy gains and help to recover losses. A 66-year-old Hong Kong retiree lost 6.6 million Hong Kong dollars (roughly $840,000) in a string of three related crypto investment scams after repeatedly trusting self-proclaimed “virtual currency experts” who reached out via WhatsApp, according to Hong Kong police’s CyberDefender unit. In a March 20 Facebook post, police said the victim was first approached in September 2025 by a scammer who cold messaged, claiming to be a “virtual currency investment expert” and promising steady gains if the victim followed his advice. The retiree then transferred $180,000 and deposited crypto into a wallet the scammer controlled, only to watch him disappear, prompting the filing of a police report. The case shows how fraudsters can recycle the same victim through successive schemes that start with “guaranteed profit” pitches and escalate int...

RedotPay Seeks $150M Raise Ahead of US IPO The post Hong Kong’s RedotPay Targets $150M Pre-IPO Raise for US Listing appeared first on Cryptonews.

Hong Kong is set to issue its first stablecoin issuer licenses, with HSBC and Standard Chartered likely among a “very small number” of initially approved issuers, local media reported. HSBC Holdings and a joint venture led by Standard Chartered are reportedly set to become the first authorized stablecoin issuers in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is expected to issue stablecoin licenses to HSBC and Standard Chartered, the South China Morning Post reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. HSBC and Standard Chartered are set to be in the first batch as authorities reportedly prioritize institutions already authorized to issue banknotes in the city. The Hong Kong government, through the HKMA, authorizes banknote issuance to three commercial banks, including local branches of HSBC, Standard Chartered and the Bank of China. Read more

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Shanghai partners will study a blockchain cross-border platform linking cargo trade data, e-bills of lading and finance under Project Ensemble. Hong Kong and Shanghai authorities have agreed to deepen cooperation on using blockchain technology to streamline trade finance and cargo documentation, under a new partnership announced Monday. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Shanghai Data Bureau (SDB) and the National Technology Innovation Center for Blockchain (NTICBC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in digitizing cargo trade and finance. The parties will conduct joint research on the benefits of developing a blockchain-based “cross-border platform” for interlinking trade data, electronic bill of lading and financial applications under the HKMA’s Project Ensemble, an initiative launched in 2024 to explore tokenized market infrastructure and new digital rails for financial services. Read more

Hong Kong to Link Digital Bond Platform With Asian Tokenization Hubs The post Hong Kong to Link New Digital Bond Platform With Regional Crypto Tokenization Hubs appeared first on Cryptonews.

Hong Kong will build a digital asset platform for tokenized bond issuance and settlement, while moving ahead with stablecoin licensing and CARF. Hong Kong will set up a new digital asset platform this year to support the issuance and settlement of tokenized bonds, as the city pushes to move tokenization from pilot deals into core market infrastructure. In his 2026-27 budget speech delivered on Wednesday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said CMU OmniClear Holdings, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), will build the platform and extend it to other digital assets.  The system will be linked with regional tokenization platforms. Chan said the platform would be “gradually extended to other digital assets and linked with other tokenisation platforms in the region,” adding that the move would consolidate Hong Kong’s role in digital asset development. Read more

The addition is the first crypto company to be licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission since June 2025, when the regulator approved Hong Kong BGE. Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has added another company to its list of formally licensed cryptocurrency trading platforms, according to a Friday announcement. The SFC’s list of licensed virtual asset trading platforms includes Victory Fintech Company Limited as the latest of now 12 cryptocurrency and blockchain entities on the Hong Kong regulator’s website. The addition of Victory marked the first time since June 2025 that the SFC had approved a crypto trading platform in Hong Kong. Although Hong Kong has been known for some time as a particularly strict jurisdiction in for crypto companies to operate in, authorities have been pursuing unlicensed virtual asset trading platforms as a criminal offense since June 2024. Many exchanges that had previously been operating in Hong Kong shut down, while others like OKX and Bybit withdrew thei...

Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) granted Victory Fintech a license.

Several leaders in Hong Kong announced efforts to advance the region's regulatory environment.

Hong Kong’s SFC will allow licensed brokers to offer digital asset margin financing and set a framework for crypto perpetuals for professionals. Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission said Wednesday it will allow licensed brokers to provide virtual asset margin financing and outlined a framework for trading platforms to offer perpetual contracts to professional investors. Under the new guidance, brokers may extend virtual asset financing to securities margin clients with sufficient collateral and strong credit profiles. Initially, only Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) will be eligible as collateral.  The regulator also set out a high-level framework for licensed virtual asset trading platforms to develop leveraged perpetual contracts. Access will be restricted to professional investors.  Read more

Questions raised after Bithumb intern sent 15X more “phantom” Bitcoin to users than it held. Plus, did a Hong Kong fund blow up? Asia Express

Questions raised after Bithumb intern sent 15X more “phantom” Bitcoin to users than it held. Plus, did a Hong Kong fund blow up? Asia Express

Questions raised after Bithumb intern sent 15X more “phantom” Bitcoin to users than it held. Plus, did a Hong Kong fund blow up? Asia Express

Hong Kong's monetary authority said only a small number of stablecoin issuers will be approved initially, as application reviews near completion. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Hong Kong's financial regulator, is preparing to grant its first stablecoin issuer licenses in March, according to a Reuters report.  During a Legislative Council meeting on Monday, HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue reportedly said the regulator’s review of stablecoin license applications was nearing completion. Yue added that the initial approvals will be limited, with only a “very small number” of licenses expected to be issued in the first batch.  At a subsequent media briefing, the regulator said the assessments were focused on use cases, risk management, anti-money laundering (AML) controls and the quality of backing assets. Licensed issuers are also expected to comply with Hong Kong’s cross-border activity rules.  Read more

An official said that Hong Kong authorities would work on a draft framework, and had begun processing license applications for stablecoin issuers and addressing crypto taxes. Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of Hong Kong, said local financial regulators are planning to submit a draft framework related to digital assets sometime in 2026. In comments prepared for a Friday policy briefing of the Hong Kong Legislative Council's Finance Committee, Hui said the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and  Securities and Futures Commission planned to submit a draft ordinance related to regulations for providers offering crypto advisory services. He added that the two regulators were consulting the public after releasing a digital asset consultation paper in December.   In addition, Hui said that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) had begun processing license applications for stablecoin issuers and would address reporting digital assets on taxes.  Read more

Hong Kong will issue stablecoin licenses this quarter. Two men allegedly linked to the 2018 BitConnect kidnappings arrested. Asia Express

Hong Kong will issue stablecoin licenses this quarter. Two men allegedly linked to the 2018 BitConnect kidnappings arrested. Asia Express

Hong Kong will issue stablecoin licenses this quarter. Two men allegedly linked to the 2018 BitConnect kidnappings arrested. Asia Express

Speaking at a closed-door workshop in Davos, Finance Secretary Paul Chan said digital assets require regulatory guardrails alongside innovation. Hong Kong Finance Secretary Paul Chan defended the city’s “same activity, same risk, same regulation” framework for digital assets while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to the South China Morning Post. Speaking at a closed-door workshop in Switzerland on Tuesday, Chan said finance and technology were increasingly intertwined but required a balanced regulatory approach. He said: Chan pointed to the city’s “same activity, same risk, same regulation” principle for digital assets, which he said guides how the sector is regulated. The principle means digital asset businesses are regulated according to the risks of their activities rather than the technology they use. Read more

The warning came as Hong Kong consults on new virtual asset advisory and management licenses, expanding oversight beyond crypto trading platforms. The Hong Kong Securities & Futures Professionals Association (HKSFPA) warned that the city’s proposed rollout of new crypto licensing regimes may unintentionally force compliant crypto managers to cease activities if regulators proceed without transitional arrangements.  The warning centers on what the group described as a potential “hard start,” under which existing firms would be required to be fully licensed by the commencement date of the new rules or cease regulated activities while their applications are under review.  Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau are currently consulting on new licensing regimes that cover virtual asset dealing, advisory and management services, which would expand regulatory oversight beyond the city’s existing framework for crypto trading platforms.  Read more