Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-07-31 03:49Core Insights - The Hong Kong digital asset ecosystem is experiencing expansion opportunities as regulatory frameworks are being optimized, allowing licensed institutions to broaden their business scope [1][3][4] Regulatory Developments - Hong Kong regulators are loosening restrictions on licensed institutions, with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) recently approving licensed crypto exchanges to offer staking services upon separate approval [3][4] - The regulatory environment is evolving from strict to more permissive, enabling a wider range of products and services within the digital asset space [3][16] - The principle of "same activity, same risks, same regulation" is being adopted to foster a vibrant and innovative digital asset ecosystem [3][16] Competitive Landscape - The Hong Kong cryptocurrency market consists of three main participants: global exchanges without local licenses (e.g., Binance), licensed exchanges and brokers (e.g., OSL and Futu), and offline stores facilitating small-scale crypto transactions [4][17] - Licensed exchanges and brokers have advantages such as connections with local banks, enhanced customer protection, and the ability to conduct marketing activities in Hong Kong [4][17] - OSL's fee structure for OTC trading is 25 basis points, with comprehensive solutions charging 10-15 basis points, and payment services around 2.5%, which is higher than international peers like Coinbase [4][20] Stablecoins and Their Role - Stablecoins play a crucial role in the Hong Kong digital asset ecosystem, with exchanges facilitating a significant volume of stablecoin-related transactions [5][21] - OSL is applying for stablecoin licenses in the EU and considering applications in Hong Kong and Singapore, emphasizing the importance of sustainable use cases for stablecoin issuance [5][21] - The transition from mainstream stablecoins to Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoins may face challenges, leading most licensed institutions to operate primarily as stablecoin distributors rather than issuers [5][21][22] RWA Tokenization - The tokenization of Real World Assets (RWA) in Hong Kong is still in its early stages, with OSL providing end-to-end solutions and custodial services [6][23] - Current RWA transactions are conducted in fiat, limiting the potential for 24/7 trading; however, using stablecoins could enable real-time transactions [6][23][24] - The slow development of RWA tokenization presents opportunities for the application of Hong Kong dollar stablecoins [6][24][25] Cross-Border Payment Solutions - OSL is building a global payment network that supports both crypto and fiat transactions, with stablecoins playing a key role [26][30] - The application of stablecoins in payments can significantly reduce transaction times compared to traditional banking methods, which typically take 2 to 5 business days [28][30]