基金托管牌照门槛抬升，年内撤回申请机构增至8家

Core Viewpoint - The tightening of regulatory requirements has led to a significant decrease in the number of institutions applying for fund custody licenses, with only two remaining applicants as of now [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Changes - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has raised the entry barriers for fund custody businesses, resulting in a withdrawal of applications from multiple institutions [1][2]. - The new draft regulations emphasize "substantive business capabilities" and "sustainable business models," which have significantly increased the entry requirements for fund custody licenses [2]. Group 2: Impact on Institutions - Guangzhou Bank is the latest institution to withdraw its application, joining several others, including Chengdu Rural Commercial Bank and six securities companies, due to their inability to meet the new net asset requirements [2]. - The new regulations require commercial banks to have a net asset of no less than 50 billion RMB and securities companies to have a net asset of at least 30 billion RMB, which many institutions currently do not meet [2]. Group 3: Business Implications - Despite the low profitability of custody services, banks and securities firms previously pursued custody licenses as a means to expand other business opportunities and provide high-value-added services [3]. - The custody business is evolving from a simple channel service to a more integrated service that includes asset safety, compliance supervision, and operational transparency, indicating a shift towards more refined operations in the industry [3].