Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission - News, Articles & Research

Hong Kong set to approve first crypto ETF

Hong Kong's financial regulator is poised to give the green light to the first batch of bitcoin spot ETFs.

11 April 2024

Company announcement/crypto

Hong Kong's SFC consults on proposals to regulate virtual asset trading platforms

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) today launched a consultation on the proposed requirements for operators of virtual asset trading platforms.

20 February 2023

News/regulation

Shearman & Sterling: 'Remove the straitjacket of statutory rules' for UK fintech

During a panel for UK Fintech Week 2021, Barnabas Reynolds, global head of financial services group, Shearman & Sterling emphasised that to build trust in the system and allow space for fintech innovation, that the focus of supervisory systems should be on risk and not unnecessary code or control.

20 April 2021

Company announcement/crypto

Hong Kong to reconfigure licencing regime for crypto assets

On Day 2 of Hong Kong Fintech Week 2020, the Securities and Futures Commission of HKSAR Government announced that it is going to propose a new regime on licensing for virtual assets this year.

03 November 2020

Company announcement/regulation

Hong Kong sets out new regulatory framework for virtual asset trading platforms

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) today issued a position paper setting out a new regulatory framework for virtual asset trading platforms (Note 1).

06 November 2019

Company announcement/regulation

Hong Kong regulator re-iterates warnings about security token offerings

This statement serves as a reminder about the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to parties engaging in security token offerings (STOs).

28 March 2019

News/regulation

Hong Kong regulator mulls sandbox approach to crypto-exchanges

Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) wants to use a sandbox environment for cryptocurrency trading venues as part of a wider change in the regulatory approach to virtual assets.

02 November 2018

Company announcement

Hong Kong watchdog puts stop to ICO

ICO issuer Black Cell Technology Limited (Black Cell) has halted its initial coin offering (ICO) to the Hong Kong public and agreed to unwind ICO transactions for Hong Kong investors by returning them the relevant tokens following regulatory action by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) over concerns that Black Cell had engaged in potential unauthorized promotional activities and unlicensed regulated activities.

19 March 2018

Company announcement

Hong Kong watchdog fines Interactive Brokers $4.5m over trading systems

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has reprimanded and fined Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited (IBHK) $4.5 million after resolving concerns over IBHK’s breaches of the Code of Conduct in its execution of market orders using electronic and algorithmic trading systems (Notes 1 & 2).

14 February 2018

Company announcement

Hong Kong regulator opens sandbox

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) today issued a circular announcing the launch of the SFC Regulatory Sandbox to provide a confined regulatory environment for qualified firms (Note 1) to conduct regulated activities utilising financial technologies (Fintech).

29 September 2017

News

Hong Kong and Dubai pledge fintech allegiance

The respective regulators of the Hong Kong and Dubai financial markets have signed an agreement designed to further their mutual cooperation on all things fintech.

29 August 2017

Company announcement

Dubai Financial Services Authority and Hong Kong's SFC ink fintech agreement

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong today entered into an agreement to establish a framework of cooperation on financial technology (FinTech) innovation.

28 August 2017