On 16 January 2025, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HK SFC) announced new regulatory standards for Virtual Asset Trading Platforms (VATPs). These measures, detailed in an official circular and its appendices (Appendix 1 and Appendix 2), were introduced following inspections of VATP applicants under the deemed licensing framework and supplement the requirements under the VATP Guidelines. Their aim is to enhance the security, compliance, and operational integrity of virtual asset trading platforms operating in Hong Kong.
