Hong Kong is actively easing its crypto trading regulations and launching a comprehensive tokenization pilot program as part of a strategic effort to solidify its position as a leading global fintech and digital asset hub. Speaking at the Hong Kong Fintech Week conference on November 3, 2025, Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) Chief Executive Julia Leung announced two major regulatory changes. First, licensed virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs) will now be permitted to share global order books with their overseas affiliates, a move intended to let local platforms access deeper global liquidity and improve market efficiency.
Second, the SFC will now allow VATPs to distribute virtual assets and Hong Kong-regulated stablecoins with less than a 12-month track record to professional investors, lowering the previous one-year history requirement. These regulatory relaxations demonstrate a concerted effort to support the growth of the digital asset industry and facilitate the entry of newer tokenized products into the market, primarily benefiting professional investors while indirectly aiding the retail sector through lower costs.Alongside these regulatory shifts, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) unveiled its “Fintech 2030” roadmap, which places a strong emphasis on tokenization, AI, and resilience. The HKMA announced it will begin incubating mature real-value use cases for tokenized deposits, starting with tokenized money market funds. This active policy push signals a decisive commitment to embracing blockchain-based financial products and positioning Hong Kong as a major Asian center for crypto innovation and institutional technology.
