Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued two new circulars outlining expectations for licensed virtual asset trading platform operators, marking a significant step towards enhancing global liquidity access and expanding the range of products and services offered [1] Group 1: Regulatory Developments - The SFC allows platform operators to merge trading instructions with affiliated overseas virtual asset trading platforms into a shared order book, which is a key component of the ASPIR roadmap's pillar A (Access) aimed at attracting global platforms, trading volume, and liquidity providers [1] - This initiative is expected to enhance market liquidity and provide more competitive pricing for Hong Kong investors while reducing additional risks under robust safeguards [1] Group 2: Future Considerations - The SFC plans to explore the feasibility of allowing licensed brokers to transfer client trading instructions to regulated overseas liquidity pools within the same group, with potential further expansions of these arrangements [1] Group 3: Product and Service Expansion - In another circular, the SFC permits platform operators to offer virtual assets without a 12-month track record to professional investors and stablecoins licensed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as well as to sell tokenized securities and digital asset-related investment products [1] - Additionally, affiliated entities of platform operators may provide custody services for virtual assets or tokenized securities not traded on the respective platforms [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) is seeking to enhance its regulatory capabilities for virtual asset trading by tendering for a monitoring system, with the aim to select a winning bidder by mid-next year [1] Group 1: Tender Process - The SFC began the tender process on October 3, with a submission deadline set for November 7 [1] - A briefing session has already been held to explain the tender, and shortlisted bidders will be required to participate in a demonstration of their proposals and technical capabilities [1] - The SFC plans to announce the shortlisted candidates shortly after the submission deadline, with the winning bid expected to be revealed approximately six months later, in mid-next year [1] Group 2: System Requirements - The new monitoring system is expected to focus on analyzing virtual asset transactions, including detecting suspicious activities such as unusual flows between wallets and fluctuations in transaction volumes [1] - Industry experts anticipate that the entry requirements for this tender will be very high, as the system must handle large volumes of data (603,138) with a high degree of accuracy [1] - The project is also expected to meet stringent government standards for security and stability, indicating that the costs associated with the project will be significant [1]

Core Viewpoint - The "Stablecoin Regulation" in Hong Kong will take effect on August 1, prohibiting unlicensed stablecoin operations, raising questions about the future of stablecoins like USDT and USDC in the region [1][4]. Group 1: Current Operations of Crypto Exchange Shops - Crypto exchange shops in Hong Kong, such as "One Bitcoin" and "Fangbei," continue to operate normally ahead of the regulation's implementation [2][3]. - These shops offer services for exchanging fiat currency and stablecoins, with varying transaction fees based on the method of purchase [3]. - Staff at these shops expressed uncertainty about the impact of the new regulation on their operations post-August 1, indicating they have not received official notifications [3][4]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment and Future Implications - The Hong Kong government welcomes virtual asset trading institutions to apply for licenses, emphasizing that unlicensed platforms selling USDT and USDC will be illegal after the regulation takes effect [4][6]. - Current OTC (over-the-counter) operations are not yet under specific licensing requirements, but the government is considering regulatory measures for these services [6][7]. - The government has observed around 200 physical virtual asset OTC shops and 250 digital platforms operating in Hong Kong, indicating a significant market presence [5]. Group 3: Stakeholder Engagement and Future Licensing - The Hong Kong government has conducted consultations regarding the licensing of virtual asset service providers, receiving approximately 70 submissions from various stakeholders [7]. - A proposal to establish a licensing regime for OTC services is under consideration, which would involve regulatory oversight by the Hong Kong Customs [6][7].