The Hong Kong government has confirmed plans to amend legislation by the end of 2026 to introduce licensing for four categories of digital assets: trading, custody services, advisory, and management.

Bill Expected to Be Introduced "This Year"

Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui said at a briefing on Monday that the government will introduce an amendment bill "this year" to establish a broader framework for digital asset activities. According to him, the changes are being prepared in response to innovative developments in financial technology.

HKMA Has Already Issued First Stablecoin Issuer Licenses

In January, Hui stated that regulators plan to introduce a draft regulation for crypto assets by the end of 2026, and that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has begun accepting applications from stablecoin issuers. In April, HKMA issued the first licenses to stablecoin issuers—Anchorpoint Financial and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.