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The de facto central bank of Hong Kong intends to have a new regulatory framework in place for crypto assets by July. This comes as the city races with Singapore to become a major center for the industry while also managing possible dangers.
Hong Kong Crypto Regulations
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is examining the cryptocurrency industry from three angles. The priority is to create a stablecoin that can be used for payments; this will guarantee investor protection and how authorized organizations handle digital assets. This is following an announcement made on the company’s website.
The authorities of Hong Kong, like those around the world, are moving toward more extensive regulation of the cryptocurrency industry. The new financial system is characterized by extreme volatility and fraudulent schemes.
Customers of a Hong Kong cryptocurrency exchange have been unable to withdraw funds since early November. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority noted recently, “We place a premium on issues that may have an impact on the public’s trust and safety, efficiency, and soundness of our payment systems. We give adequate attention to user protection.”
The Future of Crypto in Hong Kong
Regulators worldwide are taking a closer look at cryptocurrencies and, in particular, stablecoins due to their quick expansion. Regulators are concerned that they may put the financial system at risk if they aren’t watched.
The worldwide market value of crypto assets is about $2.2 trillion, signifying their increasing interconnectedness with the conventional financial system. As per reports, the statement was made by Eddie Yue, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).
The HKMA seeks comments from the general public and stakeholders through March 31. This is compared to a previous effort by the territory’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). The experiment was limited to trading platforms for virtual assets.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) was cautious in its analysis, focusing on the broader applications of stablecoins that may be used in payments. It also explores the aspects of investor protection surrounding cryptocurrency assets and regulated businesses’ interactions with cryptocurrencies.
Five regulatory options for cryptocurrencies have been identified by the HKMA, ranging from no action to a comprehensive ban. Regulated organizations are obligated to “critically analyze” their exposure to various risks. They’re also supposed to implement risk reduction techniques before establishing connections with crypto asset service suppliers.
The difficulties and volatility of cryptocurrencies have caused concerns for the Hong Kong Central Bank. This is in addition to a lack of uniformity on disclosure, reserves, and consumer protection. If the outlook of HKMA gets full support from the ruling government, the nation could be looking at a total crypto ban.