Hong Kong introduces licensing regime for dealers

Hong Kong continues to actively strengthen regulation of digital assets, reflecting the authorities' commitment to creating a safe and transparent environment for market participants. Regulators in the region have moved from the consultation phase to drafting legislation that will require specialized custodian dealers to obtain licenses to operate.

New Regulatory Framework in Hong Kong

The Financial Services and Treasury Bureau, together with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), announced the implementation of a new licensing system aimed at creating a robust and transparent regulatory framework. This should ensure a sustainable and competitive cryptocurrency ecosystem in Hong Kong, which, in turn, will increase investor and user confidence.

Stablecoin Ordinance

The Stablecoin Ordinance came into effect in Hong Kong in early 2025, establishing additional requirements for issuers of such assets. Licensing of trading platforms has become a mandatory requirement for their operation. To date, the SEC has approved 11 licenses, but many applications have been rejected, demonstrating the regulator's strict approach to ensuring the safety and security of digital asset transactions.

Hong Kong's Strategy as a Financial Center

Hong Kong is striving to strengthen its status as an international financial center, building on its favorable tax regime and the region's strategic role as a bridge between mainland China and the global capital market. Authorities are not limiting their focus to licensing alone, but are also actively testing tokenization projects and implementing innovative solutions in the financial sector.

Regulatory Framework Development

SFC Commissioner Julia Lun emphasized that regulatory development will create a safe and transparent environment for working with digital assets. As part of this process, a discussion paper on licensing cryptocurrency advisors and custodians was also published. The bill proposes establishing new anti-money laundering requirements, as well as defining the regulator's powers and potential sanctions for abuse.

In Conclusion

Thus, Hong Kong is actively working to create a safe and regulated environment for digital assets, which should contribute to the region's further development and strengthening its position in the international financial arena.