Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is set to implement the "Stablecoin Regulation" on August 1, which aims to enhance the regulatory framework for digital asset activities in Hong Kong, ensuring monetary and financial stability while reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an international financial center [2][3]. Group 1: Regulatory Framework - The new regulation will allow HKMA to start accepting license applications for stablecoin issuers, with a high threshold for approval, expecting to issue only a limited number of licenses initially [3][4]. - The regulation is based on international guidelines provided by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) under the G20, focusing on managing inherent and spillover risks associated with stablecoins [3][4]. Group 2: Characteristics and Applications of Stablecoins - Stablecoins are viewed as payment tools rather than investment vehicles, lacking appreciation potential, and are expected to be used in various applications, including cross-border payments and supply chain finance [2][4]. - The applications of stablecoins can be categorized into two segments: business-to-business (B2B) for cross-border settlements and business-to-consumer (B2C) for payments and remittances [4][5]. Group 3: Compliance and Sustainability - Stablecoin issuers must demonstrate a comprehensive compliance plan, sufficient resources, and a viable business model to ensure sustainable operations [5][6]. - The HKMA plans to launch a "Stablecoin Issuer Sandbox" in 2024 to understand the business models of institutions planning to issue fiat-backed stablecoins in Hong Kong [5][6].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report discusses the implications of stablecoins and the internationalization of the RMB, emphasizing the long-term strategies being implemented by the People's Bank of China (PBoC) to enhance the RMB's global presence [17][21] - It highlights the increasing dominance of USD-pegged stablecoins in the market, which has led to a rise in demand for US treasuries [23][24] Summary by Sections Stablecoins and RMB Internationalization - The PBoC is focusing on enhancing financial infrastructure and services in Shanghai to facilitate RMB internationalization [18] - New financial measures include promoting offshore RMB-denominated bond issuance and optimizing cross-border trade and investment [19] Market Dynamics - The stablecoin market is experiencing significant growth, with over USD 120 billion backed by US T-bills, indicating a strong reliance on USD [24] - The total transaction volume of stablecoins has been rising, with a notable increase compared to traditional payment systems like Visa and MasterCard [22] Regulatory Developments - The Hong Kong Stablecoins Bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2025, establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers [20] - The report outlines the licensing requirements and operational standards for stablecoin issuers in both Hong Kong and the US [20] RMB's Global Position - The share of RMB in global foreign exchange reserves has decreased from 2.84% in Q1 2022 to 2.18% in Q4 2024, indicating challenges in its international acceptance [31] - The establishment of a Digital Yuan International Operations Center in Shanghai aims to expand the RMB's global reach [29]

Group 1 - The recent favorable policies regarding stablecoins have ignited a surge in the global capital market, with significant stock price increases for related companies in A-shares, such as Sifang Jingchuang and Tianyang Technology, both reaching a 20% limit up [1] - Circle, known as the "first stablecoin stock," has seen its share price increase by over 300% since its listing, highlighting the growing investor interest in stablecoins [1] - The Hong Kong Legislative Council has passed the "Stablecoin Ordinance," set to take effect on August 1, which is expected to facilitate the licensing process for qualified applicants to conduct business in the stablecoin sector [1][2] Group 2 - The upcoming second policy declaration from the Hong Kong government will focus on the integration of financial services and innovation, aiming to enhance the application of digital assets and ensure their safety and flexibility in the real economy [2] - The U.S. Senate is poised to pass amendments to the "GENIUS Stablecoin Act," which mandates that stablecoins be fully backed by U.S. dollars or equivalent high-liquid assets, along with annual audits for issuers with a market cap exceeding $50 billion [2] - South Korea has proposed the "Basic Digital Asset Act," allowing companies with a capital of 5 billion KRW (approximately $367,876) or more to issue stablecoins, ensuring refunds through reserve funds [2] Group 3 - Major financial centers worldwide are establishing their digital currency systems to maintain greater monetary control in the digital finance era, with recent legislation clarifying the regulatory framework for digital assets [3] - The total market size of cryptocurrency stablecoins has surpassed $250 billion, with over $20 trillion in global stablecoin transaction volume recorded last year, indicating a growing demand for stablecoins [3] - Standard Chartered Bank predicts that the supply of stablecoins could reach $2 trillion by 2028, reflecting the robust growth of the digital asset market [3] Group 4 - The imminent passage of the U.S. stablecoin bill and Hong Kong's second digital asset policy declaration marks the entry of the global stablecoin market into a "compliance era," which is expected to provide long-term structural benefits for related concept stocks [4] - From an investment perspective, the core of the stablecoin transformation lies not in the price fluctuations of stablecoins themselves, but in identifying key players that can become critical nodes in new funding pathways, presenting historic valuation opportunities for infrastructure providers [4]

Market Overview - The Shanghai Composite Index decreased by 0.03% to 3347.49 points, while the Shenzhen Component Index fell by 0.91% to 10040.63 points, and the ChiNext Index dropped by 1.4% to 1993.19 points during the week of May 26 to May 30 [1] - In contrast, major global indices saw gains, with the Nasdaq Composite rising by 2.01%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 1.6%, and the S&P 500 up by 1.88% [1] - In the Asia-Pacific region, the Hang Seng Index declined by 1.32%, while the Nikkei 225 rose by 2.17% [1] ETF Market Performance - The median weekly return for stock ETFs was -0.27%, with the highest performing being the E Fund ChiNext Mid-Cap 200 ETF at 2.49% [2] - The top five stock ETFs by weekly gain included the Huabao CSI Financial Technology Theme ETF (5.22%) and the Bosera CSI Financial Technology Theme ETF (4.69%) [5] - Conversely, the worst performers included the Jianxin National Standard New Energy Vehicle Battery ETF (-5.62%) and the GF CSI All-Index Automotive ETF (-5.45%) [6] ETF Liquidity - Average daily trading volume for stock ETFs increased by 4.2%, while average daily turnover rose by 0.4%, with a slight decrease in turnover rate by 0.01% [7] ETF Fund Flows - The top five stock ETFs by inflow included the Huaxia SSE Sci-Tech 50 ETF with an inflow of 376 million yuan, and the Jiashi SSE Sci-Tech Chip ETF with an inflow of 181 million yuan [9] - The largest outflows were seen in the Southern CSI 500 ETF, which had an outflow of 1.236 billion yuan, followed by the Huatai-PB CSI 300 ETF with an outflow of 1.066 billion yuan [10] ETF Financing and Margin Trading - The financing balance for stock ETFs decreased from 41.232 billion yuan to 30.940 billion yuan, while the margin balance dropped from 2.0587 billion shares to 1.6405 billion shares [12] ETF Market Size - The total market size for ETFs reached 4,097.885 billion yuan, with stock ETFs accounting for 2,947.685 billion yuan [15] - Stock ETFs represented 81.2% of the total number of ETFs and 71.9% of the total market size, indicating their dominance in the ETF market [17] ETF Issuance and Establishment - No new ETFs were issued last week, but six new ETFs were established, including the Guotai ChiNext New Energy ETF and the Invesco SSE Sci-Tech 50 Enhanced Strategy ETF [18]