On 27 December 2023, the Hong Kong Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) jointly issued a consultation paper (the Consultation) proposing regulatory regime for...more
Opening the door for retail Investors: SFC-authorized virtual asset funds On 22 December 2023, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a circular on SFC-authorized funds with exposure to virtual assets...more
Hong Kong has seen cryptocurrencies grow in popularity, highlighting the need for appropriate licensing regimes (implemented in the form of virtual asset service providers (VASPs)), bolstered by active enforcement actions. ...more
Revamped SFC and HKMA guidance applies to intermediaries that distribute products or provide dealing, advisory, and asset management services related to virtual assets. On 20 October 2023, the Hong Kong Monetary...more
The HKMA and the SFC permit relaxation of suitability and other regulatory requirements while dealing with high-net-worth and experienced investors. On 28 July 2023, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the...more
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has issued a Discussion Paper on Crypto-assets and Stablecoins in January 2022. The Discussion Paper includes guiding principles of a contemplated regulatory regime for payment-related...more
Recent enforcement actions highlight the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission’s (SFC) approach to self-reporting under paragraph 12.5(a) of the Code of Conduct for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the SFC...more
Regulators propose new regulations for virtual asset exchanges and enhanced customer identity verification requirements, and launch an innovative commercial data interchange. This blog post summarises key regulatory...more
In the midst of the current market volatility in Hong Kong, tumbling oil prices and recent U.S. stock market turbulence, one may say that the markets are in “stressed” conditions. As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on...more
SFC outlines new regulatory framework for virtual asset trading platforms, HKMA highlights recent FinTech initiatives, and PBOC discusses China’s forthcoming central bank digital currency. The fourth annual Hong Kong FinTech...more
The HKMA and SFC are jointly consulting on further enhancements to OTC derivatives reporting and clearing obligations. Key Points: ..The HKMA and the SFC have proposed mandating the use of UTIs for the reporting...more
On 30 October 2018, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (MA) issued guidance on enhanced investor protection measures on the sale and distribution of debt instruments with loss-absorption features and related products...more
In a time of shifting opinions on the benefits of globalization, China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative (OBOR) offers an unexpected bright spot for multinational companies able and willing to participate in this...more
On 2 December 2016, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) in the U.S. announced its intention to take applications from fintech companies that wish to obtain a special purpose national bank charter (“The...more
The recent suspension of trading on Hong Kong based Bitcoin exchange Bitfinex following the apparent theft of approximately US$60m worth of bitcoins is the latest in a series of Bitcoin thefts. With Bitcoin still in its...more