According to Foresight News, Hong Kong crypto exchange HKVAEX was removed from the list of Hong Kong virtual asset trading platform applicants on March 28, with its license application submission date set for January 4, 2024. The reason for the removal was 'withdrawn'. So far, other applicants whose Hong Kong virtual asset trading platform applications have been withdrawn include Ammber (AMMBR (HK) LIMITED) and BitHarbour (BitHarbour (Hong Kong) Limited), while the application of Meex (Meex Digital Securities Limited) has been returned.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) disclosed that the reasons for license applications being returned, rejected, or withdrawn include, but are not limited to, the following: license applications are returned by the SFC due to incompleteness and/or unresolved significant issues; license applications are rejected or withdrawn.