Hong Kong | Crypto

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

Regulators in Hong Kong were open to in-kind redemptions for the city's crypto ETFs since day one.

Pyth Network has launched live, onchain price feeds for 85 major Hong Kong stocks, removing access barriers and enabling real-time financial data integration. Decentralized oracle network Pyth Network has begun publishing real-time, onchain prices for 85 of the most valuable stocks listed in Hong Kong, giving builders and traders worldwide direct access to one of Asia’s most important equity markets. The price feeds are sourced directly from institutional-grade venues and updated every 400 milliseconds across more than 100 blockchains, the project said in an announcement shared with Cointelegraph. “Whether you’re building trading strategies, structured products, tokenized portfolios, or simply want access to real-world stock prices from Asia’s financial gateway, these feeds bring Hong Kong’s equity market onchain openly, instantly, and permissionlessly,” the announcement said. Read more

China’s JD.com announced plans for a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin last summer and is now expected to be among the first issuers under HKMA’s stablecoin regime. China-based e-commerce giant JD.com has reportedly registered entities tied to a potential stablecoin rollout just days ahead of Hong Kong’s stablecoin regulations going into effect. JD.com, often referred to as China’s Amazon, has registered two potential stablecoin-linked entities, Jcoin and Joycoin, through its fintech subsidiary, JD Coinlink Technology, according to a report by Hong Kong news outlet Ming Pao on Tuesday. JD Coinlink is one of the official participants in the stablecoin issuer sandbox program by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), which launched last year. Read more

As Hong Kong’s new stablecoin law looms, the city’s first licensed crypto exchange is raising fresh capital to seize an early advantage.

Forget OpenAI stock — Solana apps are tokenizing Pokemon cards. Hong Kong warns stablecoin hopefuls to prep for disappointment. Asia Express The tokenization of physical collectibles is quietly gaining momentum, with Pokmon cards based on the globally popular Japanese gaming and anime franchise emerging as a standout use case. On Solana, a new wave of platforms is turning real-world assets (RWAs) like Pokmon cards into non-fungible tokens (NFTs). One of the leading platforms in this niche is Collector Crypt, which has processed nearly $95 million in total volume in under a year, according to a Dune Analytics dashboard by X user zKayAPE. The platform specializes in tokenizing Pokmon cards into NFTs, each of which is claimed to be redeemable for its physical counterpart. Much of the activity is driven by its digital gacha feature, inspired by Japans capsule-toy vending machines, where users test their luck by trading a fixed amount of money for randomized items. These platforms function like onchain versions of...

Key Takeaways: InvestHK’s Alpha Lau says stablecoin firms are exploring entry into Hong Kong ahead of new regulation. Nearly 50% of recent mainland Chinese firms entering the city did so under national policy support. Licensed institutions are expected to drive digital asset adoption through regulated financial channels. Several potential stablecoin operators are in discussions to […] The post Hong Kong in Talks With Prospective Stablecoin Firms, Says InvestHK Chief appeared first on Cryptonews.

Hong Kong prepares third batch of tokenized bonds and unveils a sweeping digital asset strategy to solidify its role as Asia’s crypto finance leader. Hong Kong plans to expand its tokenized bond program, as the government prepares a third batch of tokenized green bonds and signals intentions to make such issuances a regular feature of its debt strategy. Speaking at the Hong Kong Digital Finance Awards 2025, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui confirmed that the government’s upcoming tokenized bond sale builds on the success of two earlier rounds of tokenized green bonds issued in 2023 and 2024. The bonds were recorded and settled on distributed ledger technology, according to a Thursday report from Beijing state-owned newspaper Wen wei Po. Read more

Chinese brokerage GF Securities has teamed up with HashKey to roll out tokenized securities denominated in US dollars, Hong Kong dollars, and offshore yuan. The post GF Securities, HashKey Debut Yield-Generating Tokenized Securities in Hong Kong appeared first on Cryptonews.

Market participants are increasingly interested in the digital asset space, says Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po. Its development has advanced the businesses of financial institutions as well. The post Digital Assets Boost TradFi Businesses in Hong Kong, Says Financial Secretary appeared first on Cryptonews.

Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department teams up with the University of Hong Kong to build a crypto tracking tool amid a rise in money laundering cases involving digital assets. Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department is partnering with the University of Hong Kong to develop a digital tool to track cryptocurrency transactions in suspected money laundering schemes. On Thursday, Assistant Commissioner Mario Wong Ho-yin said customs officials would expand collaboration with academics, regional finance professionals and law enforcement to counteract increasingly complex and borderless financial crimes. “These money laundering threats are characterized by a transnational and borderless nature, and no single agency can tackle this problem alone,” Wong said during a media briefing, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. Read more

Ant International plans to apply for stablecoin licenses in Hong Kong and Singapore, signaling growing fintech interest in regulated crypto payment systems, Bloomberg reported. Ant International reportedly plans to apply for stablecoin issuer licenses in Singapore and Hong Kong, signaling growing institutional cryptocurrency adoption among fintech firms. Ant International, a Singapore-based unit of the Jack Ma-backed Ant Group, is preparing to submit a license application in Hong Kong after the city’s stablecoin regulatory framework takes effect in August, according to a Bloomberg report citing unidentified sources. The company is expected to pursue similar licensing efforts in Singapore and Luxembourg. Ant Group is an affiliate of the Chinese conglomerate Alibaba Group, which owns and operates the world’s largest digital payment platform, Alipay, serving over 80 million merchants and 1.3 billion users worldwide. Read more

Hong Kong has entered Phase 2 of its e-HKD pilot, running live trials in asset settlement, cross-border payments and programmable finance. Tests link bank rails with public chains via Chainlink, measuring how ERC-20 and ERC-3643 tokens uphold KYC and transfer limits under load. The post Hong Kong’s e-HKD Program Enters Critical Phase – Here’s What It Means appeared first on Cryptonews.