Copyright reuters
SummaryCompaniesHong Kong permits virtual asset platorms to tap global liquidityCity launches "Fintech 2030" roadmap to boost hub statusTokenisation of money funds the priority in pilot scheme HONG KONG, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Hong Kong will ease rules and introduce a tokenisation pilot scheme to promote digital asset trading and investment, government officials said on Monday, as the city seeks to establish itself as a major fintech and digital asset hub. Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) will relax rules on Monday to allow locally licensed virtual asset trading platforms (VATP) to share global order books with affiliates overseas, Julia Leung, CEO of the securities watchdog, told the Hong Kong Fintech Week conference. Advertisement · Scroll to continueReport Ad The move eases current rules that require VATP's order book - a list of buy and sell orders for virtual assets - to be ring-fenced in Hong Kong. The changes are designed to allow operations to tap global liquidity. Additionally, VATPs will now be allowed to distribute virtual assets and Hong Kong-regulated stablecoins with less than a 12-month track record to professional investors, easing previous requirements for a minimum one-year track record. The regulatory adjustments come as Hong Kong intensifies efforts to compete with Singapore and the U.S. amid surging appetite for digital investments, solidifying its status as a fintech hub. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Meanwhile, Hong Kong's wider financial sector is poised to benefit from rising investment in digital transformation and tokenisation, according to the city's de-facto central bank. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority unveiled on Monday its "Fintech 2030" roadmap, focusing on data, artificial intelligence, resilience and tokenisation. As part of the initiative, HKMA said it will advance its sandbox Ensemble to enable real-value transactions in tokenised deposits and digital assets. "We will now begin incubating mature real-value use cases where tokenised deposits can offer significant advantages, starting with tokenised money market funds," Eddie Yue, chief executive of HKMA, said at the same forum. The regulator did not disclose details of such real-value applications. "The momentum behind this (digital) transformation is underscored by substantial technological investment with total spending projected to reach more than HK$100 billion ($12.9 billion) every year in the next three years," Yue added. Hong Kong has witnessed a flurry of launches of tokenised Hong Kong-dollar and U.S. dollar money market funds this year, reflecting the global trend of digital-native capital seeking yield-generating investments. Tokenised products are gaining in popularity, drawing sizable flows, with digitalised currency becoming mainstream, two executives of major global banks said on Monday. HSBC's (HSBA.L), opens new tab CEO Georges Elhedery said during a panel discussion its tokenised gold product launched in Hong Kong has now become the third largest such product globally, with "mass adoption by retail customers". "Our belief, which I think is shared by the leadership of Hong Kong, is that pretty much all transactions will settle on blockchains eventually, and that all money will be digital," said Bill Winters, chief executive of lender Standard Chartered (STAN.L), opens new tab, on the same panel. ($1 = 7.7675 Hong Kong dollars) Reporting by Selena Li, Kane Wu and Scott Murdoch; Editing by Sam Holmes and Jacqueline Wong Purchase Licensing Rights Get the key points from this story with Reuters AI Kane WuThomson ReutersKane Wu covers M&A, private equity, venture capital and investment banks in Asia. She tracks the region's most high-profile deals, fundraisings as well as investment trends amidst geopolitical, macroeconomic and regulatory changes. She was nominated for a SOPA Excellence in Business Reporting award for coverage of China regulatory crackdown in 2021. Prior to Reuters, she worked at the Wall Street Journal and also wrote about Asia's loan market for Thomson Reuters Basis Point. She is based in Hong Kong.EmailX
