Does Hong Kong’s slow approach to crypto regulation risk stifling digital asset growth?
#HongKong2024 Hong Kong risks falling behind in crypto as the city is urged to speed up regulation to keep pace with the rapidly evolving industry.
$BTC Hong Kong-based First Digital Trust expressed hopes that the city will accelerate the regulation of the digital assets sector.
$ETH Hong Kong, aiming to position itself as a global hub for cryptocurrency, currently has only two fully licensed virtual asset trading platforms: Hash Blockchain and OSL Digital Securities. Many other crypto exchanges are still awaiting full operational licenses in the city.
$BNB “It is understandable its (Hong Kong’s) current approach to regulation in trading is more conservative and slower than some other jurisdictions since it prioritizes the protection of investors,” Vincent Chok, CEO of First Digital, told Cointelegraph in an exclusive interview. However, he pointed out:
“We hope to see regulation move faster to ensure it does not fall behind the industry’s fast pace of development.”
As of June 1, operating an unlicensed virtual asset trading platform (VATP) in Hong Kong became a criminal offense. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission published an “alert list” that names “suspicious virtual asset trading platforms” or unlicensed entities operating in Hong Kong. SFC said these entities could be targeting Hong Kong investors.
Will Hong Kong emulate Dubai?
#Dubia On July 17, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published their findings on local stablecoin regulation.
A week later, on July 24, Jingdong Coinlink Technology Hong Kong Limited, a JD Technology Group subsidiary, announced plans to issue a 1:1 stablecoin pegged to the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). The HKMA recognizes the company as a participant in the sandbox program.