Hong Kong Grants Crypto License to Victory Fintech, Expands Regulated Digital Asset Market

TheNewsCrypto2026-02-17 tarihinde yayınlandı2026-02-17 tarihinde güncellendi

Özet

Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has granted a cryptocurrency trading license to Victory Fintech, a publicly listed financial services company. This marks the first such license issued since June 2025, bringing the total number of licensed crypto trading platforms in Hong Kong to 12. The city introduced a strict crypto licensing regime in 2023, requiring all virtual asset trading platforms to obtain SFC approval. Due to stringent compliance requirements, major global exchanges like OKX and Bybit withdrew their applications in 2024. Unlicensed operations have been treated as a criminal offense since June 2024. Regulators are gradually expanding permitted crypto services, now allowing licensed brokers to offer virtual asset margin financing—initially only with BTC and ETH as collateral—and perpetual contracts to professional investors under strict guidelines. Hong Kong aims to balance innovation with investor protection, maintaining a tightly controlled regulatory environment. Future plans include introducing draft legislation in 2026 to regulate crypto advisory services. Currently, no stablecoin issuers have been approved by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has approved a license to a cryptocurrency trading platform for Victory Fintech, which is a publicly listed financial service company. Since June 2025, this was the first license issued by SFC, with a total of 12 licensed crypto trading platforms in Hong Kong.

Strict Crypto Rules of Hong Kong

Hong Kong introduced its crypto licensing regime in 2023. Under this framework, all the virtual asset trading platforms must obtain formal approval from the SFC to operate, which makes this system one of the strictest among other global hubs. Major global exchanges like OKX and Bybit withdrew their applications in 2024 due to the strict compliance requirements, and since June 2024, the unlicensed crypto platform in Hong Kong has been treated as a criminal offense.

The approval for Victory Fintech came right after the Hong Kong regulators gradually expanded permitted crypto services. Recently, SFC announced that the licensed brokers can now offer virtual asset margin financing, and only BTC and ETH are initially approved as collateral. Now platforms can also offer perpetual contracts to professional investors under strict guidelines. This shows that Hong Kong is carefully broadening the crypto products in the market under tight control.

Future regulation plans

Hong Kong regulators are planning to implement more rules. In January, Christopher Hui, who was the Financial Services and Treasury secretary, announced that authorities are planning to introduce draft legislation in 2026 to regulate the firms offering crypto advisory services. However, right now, Hong Kong’s Monetary Authority has not yet approved any stablecoin issuers.

Hong Kong aims to balance innovations with strong investor protection by approving a license to Victory Fintech. Hong Kong remains with strict but structured crypto regulations, with only fully compliant firms allowed to operate.

Highlighted Crypto News:

Trezor and Ledger Users Targeted by Fraudulent Physical Mail Scams

İlgili Sorular

QWhat is the significance of Victory Fintech receiving a crypto license from Hong Kong's SFC?

AVictory Fintech is the first company to receive a crypto trading license from Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) since June 2025, bringing the total number of licensed platforms to 12, which expands the regulated digital asset market in the region.

QWhy did major global exchanges like OKX and Bybit withdraw their applications in Hong Kong?

AOKX and Bybit withdrew their applications due to the strict compliance requirements of Hong Kong's crypto licensing regime, which mandates formal SFC approval for all virtual asset trading platforms to operate legally.

QWhat new services can licensed brokers in Hong Kong now offer according to recent SFC announcements?

ALicensed brokers can now offer virtual asset margin financing with BTC and ETH initially approved as collateral, and they can also provide perpetual contracts to professional investors under strict guidelines.

QWhat future regulatory plans did Christopher Hui announce for Hong Kong's crypto market?

AChristopher Hui, the Financial Services and Treasury secretary, announced that authorities plan to introduce draft legislation in 2026 to regulate firms offering crypto advisory services.

QHow does Hong Kong's approach to crypto regulation balance innovation and investor protection?

AHong Kong aims to balance innovation with strong investor protection by maintaining strict, structured crypto regulations that allow only fully compliant firms, like Victory Fintech, to operate in the market.

İlgili Okumalar

Kalshi-CFTC Fight In New Mexico Could Shape Prediction Market Rules

A jurisdictional battle between the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the state of New Mexico over the regulation of prediction markets could set national rules for the industry. At issue is who polices platforms like Kalshi, with the CFTC asserting federal oversight and New Mexico arguing state gaming and consumer protection laws apply, especially for contracts resembling wagers on events like elections or sports. The outcome will determine if prediction markets can scale nationally under a clear federal framework or face a fragmented, state-by-state regulatory landscape. This dispute is significant for the crypto-adjacent trading community, which often engages with these speculative event markets. A clearer rulebook could boost mainstream adoption, liquidity, and integration with crypto infrastructure, while a state-led challenge could stifle growth. The case is particularly sensitive for sports-related contracts, where the line between financial markets and gambling blurs. Ultimately, this legal fight will shape whether prediction markets become a scalable national product or remain constrained by jurisdictional conflicts.

bitcoinist9 dk önce

Kalshi-CFTC Fight In New Mexico Could Shape Prediction Market Rules

bitcoinist9 dk önce

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

**Summary: The Value Distribution of Stablecoins** The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from mere trading tools into broader channels for dollar access. It divides the stablecoin ecosystem into four layers to analyze how value is distributed: 1. **Issuance Layer:** Mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the spread between reserve yield and user costs (e.g., Tether, Circle). This layer currently earns the largest profit margin. 2. **Infrastructure Layer:** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and asset management (e.g., Bridge, BVNK). This is the "unglamorous" but critical work, building the essential bridges between crypto and real-world finance. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer:** Integrates stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and provides enterprise financial software (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase). They act as the access point for businesses. 4. **Application Layer:** The end-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlements, or as a store of value. They benefit from convenience but have little pricing power. The core thesis is that while the issuance layer currently dominates profits, the often-overlooked **infrastructure layer holds significant long-term potential**. The real challenge and barrier to mass adoption is not the on-chain transfer of stablecoins (which is simple), but the complex "last mile" integration into existing business workflows, banking systems, and regulatory frameworks across different countries. Companies in this layer are currently in a "land grab" phase, investing heavily to build networks, secure bank partnerships, and establish compliance pathways. While their position is currently pressured by the profitable issuers above and distribution platforms below, the article suggests that if stablecoins become a default financial rail for businesses, the infrastructure providers who have done the hard work of integration will ultimately gain strong pricing power and become entrenched, essential players.

marsbit5 saat önce

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from a mere trading tool into a broad "dollar channel." It analyzes the industry's value chain through four layers: 1. **Issuance Layer (e.g., Tether, Circle):** The top layer that mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the thickest interest rate spread. 2. **Infrastructure Layer (e.g., Bridge, BVNK):** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling critical but complex "dirty work" like fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and cross-border settlement. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase):** Embeds stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and integrates with enterprise software. 4. **Application Layer:** End-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlement, or storing value. The author posits that while the issuance layer currently captures the most profit, the most overlooked and potentially critical layer is infrastructure. The core challenge for stablecoin adoption isn't the on-chain transfer (which is simple), but bridging the gap between blockchain and the real-world financial system. This involves solving practical problems for businesses: fiat conversion, reconciliation, tax handling, and user onboarding. Infrastructure companies are currently in a difficult "land-grab" phase—building networks, securing banking relationships, and achieving compliance country-by-country. They face pressure from both the profitable issuance layer above and distribution platforms below. However, the author suggests this layer is building a crucial moat. Once stablecoins become a default business rail, the infrastructure players who have done the hard work of integration may gain significant, durable value and pricing power.

链捕手5 saat önce

Why Is Nvidia Borrowing $20 Billion When It's Not Short of Cash?

Nvidia's recent announcement to issue at least $20 billion in senior notes, despite holding a strong cash position with over $48.6 billion in free cash flow last quarter, is not a sign of financial need. Instead, it represents a strategic move to leverage its high credit rating (recently upgraded to AA by S&P) to secure low-cost, long-term debt. This capital will support long-term AI infrastructure investments, data centers, R&D, supply chain prepayments, and strategic investments, while allowing the company to continue aggressive shareholder returns through stock buybacks and dividends. The decision reflects a mature capital management strategy: using debt to finance long-term growth assets is more efficient and less dilutive to shareholders than equity financing. It signals that Nvidia, like other tech giants (Alphabet, Meta, Amazon), is entering a new phase of heavy AI capital expenditure, shifting from a pure growth story to a story about capital allocation, credit strength, and long-term ecosystem positioning. The key question for investors is whether Nvidia can maintain its high cash flow generation and ensure that returns from these AI investments justify the cost of capital over the long term. The bond issuance amplifies its expansion capabilities but also ties its valuation more closely to the broader AI investment cycle's sustainability and profitability.

marsbit6 saat önce

Why Is Nvidia Borrowing $20 Billion When It's Not Short of Cash?

marsbit6 saat önce

Liberland Fires Tech Secretary After Alleged Blockchain And Website Takeover Attempt

Liberland's congress has voted to remove Technology Secretary Dorian Stern Vukotić, following a resolution accusing him of attempting to hijack the Liberland.org domain, removing administrative multisig protections, blocking the president from voting, and launching unauthorized tokens. The incident serves as a case study in blockchain governance, highlighting risks that go beyond smart contracts to include control over domains, admin keys, and off-chain authority. For the crypto industry, it underscores the need to scrutinize decentralization claims against operational realities, where a small group can still compromise governance. The story reflects a broader market shift where infrastructure security and governance are becoming as critical as price action. Editorial framing should treat the development as a verified information signal about governance risks, avoiding overstatement of Liberland's legal status and leaving room for follow-up evidence.

bitcoinist6 saat önce

Liberland Fires Tech Secretary After Alleged Blockchain And Website Takeover Attempt

bitcoinist6 saat önce

İşlemler

Spot

Futures