Hong Kong | Crypto

China’s 2021 crypto ban remains intact, and lawyer Joshua Chu explains why supposed loopholes in Hong Kong and beyond are illusions that end in crackdowns. Chinas crypto ban has been in place since 2021, but that hasnt stopped companies from chasing what they believe are ways to reenter. Hyped-up stablecoin announcements in Hong Kong and overseas listings that hint at digital assets are just some of the ways companies are testing boundaries. Each time, Beijing responds with fresh warnings a stark reminder that Chinas crypto U-turn isnt around the corner. The latest warning reportedly came from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which advised companies to pause real-world asset ventures in Hong Kong. It followed a state-owned company scrubbing announcements about tokenizing bonds and other enterprises revealing RWA projects, piling on recent warnings against stablecoins after Hong Kong introduced its licensing framework. Read more

China’s 2021 crypto ban remains intact, and lawyer Joshua Chu explains why supposed loopholes in Hong Kong and beyond are illusions that end in crackdowns. Chinas crypto ban has been in place since 2021, but that hasnt stopped companies from chasing what they believe are ways to reenter. Hyped-up stablecoin announcements in Hong Kong and overseas listings that hint at digital assets are just some of the ways companies are testing boundaries. Each time, Beijing responds with fresh warnings a stark reminder that Chinas crypto U-turn isnt around the corner. The latest warning reportedly came from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which advised companies to pause real-world asset ventures in Hong Kong. It followed a state-owned company scrubbing announcements about tokenizing bonds and other enterprises revealing RWA projects, piling on recent warnings against stablecoins after Hong Kong introduced its licensing framework. Read more

China’s 2021 crypto ban remains intact, and lawyer Joshua Chu explains why supposed loopholes in Hong Kong and beyond are illusions that end in crackdowns. Chinas crypto ban has been in place since 2021, but that hasnt stopped companies from chasing what they believe are ways to reenter. Hyped-up stablecoin announcements in Hong Kong and overseas listings that hint at digital assets are just some of the ways companies are testing boundaries. Each time, Beijing responds with fresh warnings a stark reminder that Chinas crypto U-turn isnt around the corner. The latest warning reportedly came from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which advised companies to pause real-world asset ventures in Hong Kong. It followed a state-owned company scrubbing announcements about tokenizing bonds and other enterprises revealing RWA projects, piling on recent warnings against stablecoins after Hong Kong introduced its licensing framework. Read more

China’s 2021 crypto ban remains intact, and lawyer Joshua Chu explains why supposed loopholes in Hong Kong and beyond are illusions that end in crackdowns. Chinas crypto ban has been in place since 2021, but that hasnt stopped companies from chasing what they believe are ways to reenter. Hyped-up stablecoin announcements in Hong Kong and overseas listings that hint at digital assets are just some of the ways companies are testing boundaries. Each time, Beijing responds with fresh warnings a stark reminder that Chinas crypto U-turn isnt around the corner. The latest warning reportedly came from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which advised companies to pause real-world asset ventures in Hong Kong. It followed a state-owned company scrubbing announcements about tokenizing bonds and other enterprises revealing RWA projects, piling on recent warnings against stablecoins after Hong Kong introduced its licensing framework. Read more

China’s 2021 crypto ban remains intact, and lawyer Joshua Chu explains why supposed loopholes in Hong Kong and beyond are illusions that end in crackdowns. Chinas crypto ban has been in place since 2021, but that hasnt stopped companies from chasing what they believe are ways to reenter. Hyped-up stablecoin announcements in Hong Kong and overseas listings that hint at digital assets are just some of the ways companies are testing boundaries. Each time, Beijing responds with fresh warnings a stark reminder that Chinas crypto U-turn isnt around the corner. The latest warning reportedly came from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which advised companies to pause real-world asset ventures in Hong Kong. It followed a state-owned company scrubbing announcements about tokenizing bonds and other enterprises revealing RWA projects, piling on recent warnings against stablecoins after Hong Kong introduced its licensing framework. Read more

China’s 2021 crypto ban remains intact, and lawyer Joshua Chu explains why supposed loopholes in Hong Kong and beyond are illusions that end in crackdowns. Chinas crypto ban has been in place since 2021, but that hasnt stopped companies from chasing what they believe are ways to reenter. Hyped-up stablecoin announcements in Hong Kong and overseas listings that hint at digital assets are just some of the ways companies are testing boundaries. Each time, Beijing responds with fresh warnings a stark reminder that Chinas crypto U-turn isnt around the corner. The latest warning reportedly came from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which advised companies to pause real-world asset ventures in Hong Kong. It followed a state-owned company scrubbing announcements about tokenizing bonds and other enterprises revealing RWA projects, piling on recent warnings against stablecoins after Hong Kong introduced its licensing framework. Read more

DBS Hong Kong CEO Sebastian Paredes warned that Hong Kong’s new stablecoin KYC and AML rules will largely block their use in onchain derivatives trading. Hong Kong’s stablecoin regulatory framework limits their use for derivatives trading on blockchain networks, according to Sebastian Paredes, CEO of DBS Hong Kong. According to a Friday report by local news outlet The Standard, Paredes said that Hong Kong regulations on stablecoin Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements will significantly restrict their use for onchain derivatives trading. He said the bank would monitor developments, but focus instead on building broader stablecoin capabilities in Hong Kong. His comments followed the rollout of Hong Kong’s new stablecoin rules on Aug. 1. The rules immediately criminalized the promotion of unlicensed stablecoins and established a public registry of authorized issuers. Read more

Hong Kong’s $500-million HashKey Fund shows how DATs could reshape Bitcoin and Ether treasuries with compliance, diversification and transparency. Hong Kong-based HashKey Group has launched a significant $500-million Digital Asset Treasuries (DAT) fund, marking a major step toward mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies. This initiative places digital assets at the heart of treasury innovation. DATs are changing how companies manage balance sheets, and they are increasingly drawing attention from both investors and regulators worldwide. Read more

The reported pause on RWA tokenization shows Beijing’s risk concerns, even as Hong Kong accelerates its digital-asset ambitions.

The companies say the pilot will test a blockchain infrastructure aimed at automating the distribution, settlement and management of tokenized products in Hong Kong. Chainlink, a blockchain oracle provider, and UBS, a $5.9 trillion asset manager, have partnered with DigiFT for a pilot study to automate real-world tokenization funds. This feature could eliminate manual errors, according to the companies. If successful, the study could have implications for RWA tokenization in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China. According to the announcement, the three groups are “developing a regulated blockchain-based infrastructure designed to automate and streamline the distribution, settlement, and lifecycle management of tokenized products [...].” Read more

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...

DigiFT, Chainlink and UBS won approval under Hong Kong’s Cyberport subsidiy scheme to build automated infrastructure for tokenized financial products.

HSBC and ICBC reportedly plan to apply for Hong Kong stablecoin licenses, with ICBC and Standard Chartered expected to secure first-round approvals. HSBC and the world’s largest bank by total assets, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), reportedly plan to apply for stablecoin licenses in Hong Kong as the region’s new regulatory regime takes effect. According to a Monday report in the Hong Kong Economic Journal, both HSBC and ICBC signaled their intention to apply for a stablecoin license with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Neither bank responded to Cointelegraph’s request for comment by publication. The HKMA previously said it is likely to only issue a few stablecoin licenses at first. According to the report, Standard Chartered and ICBC are likely to receive their licenses in the first round, giving them a potential first-mover advantage. Read more

A China Merchants Bank subsidiary launched a Hong Kong-based crypto exchange for professional investors after securing a virtual asset service provider license. CMB International Securities Limited, a subsidiary of the China Merchants Bank (CMB) — one of China’s top banks — launched a cryptocurrency exchange in Hong Kong. According to a Monday CMB WeChat announcement, the bank has started offering virtual asset trading services. The launch comes after the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission approved the bank’s application for a virtual asset service provider license in mid-July. CMB’s Hong Kong-based crypto exchange allows for 24/7 trading of Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Tether’s USDt (USDT) for eligible investors. Documentation provided by the bank clarified that only professional investors are eligible for crypto trading services. Read more

A Hong Kong SFC official warned that the new local stablecoin framework has fueled fraud risks, and urged investors to remain cautious amid hype-driven speculation. A Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) official warned that the introduction of the new local stablecoin regulatory framework has increased the risk of fraud. According to an Aug. 18 report by Chinese financial news outlet Zhitongcaijing, Ye Zhiheng, executive director of the intermediaries division at the SFC, said that fraud risks have increased with the recent introduction of stablecoin regulations. He urged investors to exercise caution and avoid making irrational investment decisions driven by market hype or price momentum. Ye’s remarks followed stablecoin companies operating in Hong Kong posting double-digit losses on Aug. 1, just after the new stablecoin regulation came into force. Analysts at the time described the sell-off as a healthy correction, as the requirements for stablecoin issuers proved to be more stringent than exp...

Hong Kong’s financial regulators cautioned investors to avoid making impulsive bets on stablecoin-linked assets after a spate of sharp price swings tied to speculation, corporate announcements, and unverified claims about licensing plans in the city. In a joint statement, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said they had […] The post Hong Kong regulators warn against hype-driven stablecoin market swings appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Standard Chartered’s Hong Kong arm and Animoca Brands have launched a joint venture, Anchorpoint Financial, to develop a licensed Hong Kong dollar stablecoin. The Hong Kong subsidiary of major bank Standard Chartered has partnered with Web3 software company Animoca Brands to develop a Hong Kong-dollar stablecoin. According to a Friday announcement from Animoca Brands, the two companies jointly established Anchorpoint Financial Limited in Hong Kong to apply for a local stablecoin issuer license. The shared subsidiary will be tasked with building a business model focused on issuing and advancing licensed stablecoins. Per the announcement, Anchorpoint Financial already indicated formal interest in obtaining a stablecoin license with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Aug. 1. This followed the regulator’s implementation of its new stablecoin framework through a six-month transition period with special rules. Read more

Stablecoin-linked stocks in Hong Kong plunged by double digits amid the city’s new regulatory transition, but experts say it's a healthy correction. Stablecoin companies operating in Hong Kong posted double-digit losses on Friday amid local regulatory shifts and a broader market correction. Bright Smart Securities & Commodities Group fell nearly 20% on Friday, according to Google Finance data. Yunfeng Financial Group dropped more than 16% during the trading session, while Guotai Junan International Holdings slid 11% and OSL Group declined 10.5%. These companies are referred to as “Hong Kong stablecoin-concept companies,” with share prices driven by exposure to stablecoin issuance, custody, trading, or related infrastructure. Still, some local experts view the correction as a positive market adjustment. Read more

Hong Kong has brought its Stablecoin Bill into force, establishing a licensing regime that compels issuers of HKD-, CNY- or other fiat-pegged tokens to maintain segregated reserves, meet AML and audit duties, and assure par redemption, potentially challenging USD dominance in Asian settlement. The post Hong Kong’s Stablecoin Bill Takes Effect, Licensing Regime Now in Force appeared first on Cryptonews.

Hong Kong will begin enforcing its new stablecoin regulations on Friday, with a six-month transition period allowing temporary licenses for issuers. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will implement a six-month transition period with special rules as part of its new framework for stablecoins, which is set to take effect on Friday. According to a Wednesday report by local news outlet Radio Television Hong Kong, the HKMA will introduce a six-month transitional arrangement as the new stablecoin framework becomes active. The provisional rules also include the issuance of temporary licenses to issuers capable of complying with regulatory requirements. However, if a Hong Kong stablecoin issuer fails to comply with the new rules within three months, they will be required to wind down their operations within four months. Issuers that the HKMA believes cannot comply with the new rules will be forced to cease operations within a single month of receiving their notice, the report said. Read more