Newsletters
SFC and HKMA Issue Joint Circular on Intermediaries’ VA-related Activities (January 2022)
The Securities and Futures Commission (the SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (the HKMA) issued updated guidance for intermediaries distributing virtual asset-related products and/or offering virtual asset dealing or advisory services. The HKMA and the Hong Kong Insurance Authority have also published separate circulars on regulatory approaches in relation to virtual assets and virtual asset service providers.
SFC Issues Regulations for Licensed Crypto Exchanges
The SFC’s new regulations for licensed crypto exchanges focus on investor protection to ensure that clients of professional investors have sufficient knowledge of virtual asset investments.
HKEx Reports on Hong Kong ETF Market as a Door to Global Investment
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEx) published a Research Report: Hong Kong’s ETF Market as a Door to Global Investment in September 2019 highlighting Hong Kong’s potential as Asia’s exchange traded funds (ETF) marketplace for the issue and trading of ETFs. With...
SFC Sets Standards for Virtual Asset Portfolio Managers and Fund Distributors
The SFC sets out regulatory requirements in a Statement on Regulatory Framework for Virtual Assets Portfolios Managers, Fund Distributors and Trading Platform Operators (the Regulatory Framework Statement).
SFC Opens Sandbox to Crypto Exchanges
The SFC’s “Statement on regulatory framework for virtual asset portfolio managers, fund distributors and trading platform operators” sets out its proposals for the potential regulation of crypto exchanges.
SFC’s regulatory action halts one Hong Kong ICO
On 19 March 2018, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a press release stating that Black Cell Technology Limited (Black Cell) halted its initial coin offering (ICO) to the Hong Kong public as a result of regulatory action by the SFC. The SFC considered...
SFC Warns of Cryptocurrency Risks
The SFC sent letters to seven cryptocurrency exchanges in Hong Kong notifying them that they should not trade cryptocurrencies which are securities as defined under the SFO unless they are licensed by the SFC.
Regulation of Cryptocurrency and blockchain tokens and initial coin offerings (ICOs)
A key issue surrounding cryptocurrencies is whether they are regarded as securities and thus subject to an extensive regulatory regime. On 5 September 2017, Hong Kong’s SFC issued a statement on ICOs.
SFC Circular on Regulation of Bitcoin Futures and Cryptocurrency Investment Products and Related Risks
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a Circular on 11 December 2017 stating that it regards Bitcoin futures contracts traded on U.S. futures and commodities exchanges (Bitcoin Futures) as “futures contracts” for the purposes of the Securities…
Hong Kong IPO market – 2017 and 2018 outlook
New listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the Exchange) in 2017 hit an all-time high of 174 companies, while its market capitalisation reached HK$33,998.8 billion on the year’s final trading day, its highest level ever, according to the Exchange’s latest data[1] published 9 January 2018.
European Chamber of Commerce Publishes Position Paper on Hong Kong Fintech
European Chamber of Commerce Publishes Position Paper on Hong Kong Fintech including Key Recommendations on Fintech Development and Encouraging Collaboration Between the European Commission and HK Government
HKMA Launches a Fintech Supervisory Sandbox (FSS)
The HKMA has launched a Fintech Supervisory Sandbox (FSS) to allow banks to pilot trials of Fintech and other technological initiatives in a controlled environment before they are launched on a fuller scale.