Hong Kong will introduce sweeping reforms to strengthen its place as a world digital asset hub, Monetary Secretary Paul Chan introduced in his 2026-27 Finances speech, outlining new licensing guidelines, stablecoin approvals and tokenization initiatives.
Abstract
- Hong Kong will introduce a invoice this yr to ascertain licensing regimes for digital asset sellers and custodians as a part of its expanded regulatory framework.
- The federal government confirmed the primary batch of fiat-referenced stablecoin issuer licenses might be granted subsequent month, marking a key milestone in its crypto roadmap.
- Authorities will assist tokenized bond issuance, improve digital asset market liquidity, and implement the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework to spice up tax transparency.
The federal government will desk a invoice this yr establishing licensing regimes for digital asset dealing platforms and custodian service suppliers, increasing the town’s regulatory perimeter past exchanges.
The transfer follows Hong Kong’s second coverage assertion on digital property, which goals to create what officers describe as a “complete regulatory framework” for innovation and investor safety.
Chan additionally confirmed that Hong Kong has carried out a licensing regime for issuers of fiat-referenced stablecoins, with the primary batch of licenses set to be issued subsequent month. Authorities mentioned they’ll work with authorized issuers to discover compliant, risk-controlled use instances, signaling a shift from coverage design to real-world deployment.
The Securities and Futures Fee (SFC) will take extra steps to deepen liquidity within the metropolis’s digital asset market, significantly for skilled buyers. The regulator plans to broaden the vary of services and products obtainable and launch an accelerator program aimed toward fast-tracking innovation inside regulatory guardrails.
Tokenization is one other key focus. The federal government will publish steering clarifying that debenture holder registers will be maintained utilizing distributed ledger expertise, whereas exploring digital signatures for bond issuance paperwork and the digitalization of bearer bonds.
In parallel, Hong Kong will amend its Inland Income Ordinance to implement the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and up to date Widespread Reporting Commonplace over the following two years. The adjustments, with a invoice anticipated within the first half of this yr, are designed to boost tax transparency and fight cross-border tax evasion.
Collectively, the measures mark one among Hong Kong’s most complete digital asset coverage pushes thus far, reinforcing its ambition to compete with main world crypto monetary facilities.
