Policy Event ยท High impact

HSBC, Standard Chartered to Receive Hong Kong's First Stablecoin Licenses

HSBC Holdings and Standard Chartered are set to be among Hong Kong's first licensed stablecoin issuers. HKMA received 36 formal applications under the Stablecoins Ordinance (effective August 2025) but will issue only 3-4 licenses in the first batch. Standard Chartered's HK unit formed a JV with Animoca Brands and HKT for a HKD-backed stablecoin. Hong Kong requires reserves backed exclusively by High Quality Liquid Assets with T+1 par redemptions.

High impact๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Hong KongStablecoinLicensingUSDTUSDC

APAC FINSTAB analysis

For APAC operators, this creates a high-impact signal around stablecoin, licensing in Hong Kong. Protocols/assets in scope: USDT, USDC. Teams should monitor the original source, map the change to licensing, custody, disclosure, and market-access obligations, and update their jurisdiction playbooks before the next compliance review.

Compliance read-through: map this event to entity licensing, market-access, custody, disclosure, token listing, and operational-risk obligations before expanding or marketing in the affected jurisdiction.

View related Stablecoin tracker page โ†’

Related policy events

Thailand SEC Opens Consultation to Let Existing Digital Asset Firms Add Crypto Derivatives Licenses

Thailand's SEC opened a consultation on allowing existing licensed digital asset operators to apply for crypto derivatives permissions within the same corporate entity, pairing the expansion with stronger conflict-management and exchange-clearing oversight.

Medium impact๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ ThailandRegulationLicensingExchangeBTCETH