Regulation
Neutral
Hong Kong reaffirms plan for crypto licensing bill by end of 2026
Image: CointelegraphHong Kong plans to submit an amendment bill before the end of 2026. The bill would create licensing regimes for four crypto service types: virtual asset dealing, custody, advisory and management. Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, gave the timeline at a Legislative Council policy briefing. Dealing rules would follow parts of the Type 1 securities framework, and advisory rules would broadly follow Type 4. Hui said the HKMA had begun processing stablecoin issuer applications.
Key points
- Hong Kong plans to submit a crypto licensing amendment bill before the end of 2026.
- The bill covers four categories: virtual asset dealing, custody, advisory and management services.
- Christopher Hui announced the timeline at a Legislative Council policy briefing.
- The HKMA granted its first two stablecoin issuer licences in April 2026.
Why it matters
The bill would add licensing requirements for dealing, custody, advisory and management services in Hong Kong. Exchanges serving the local market already need SFC authorization, and stablecoin issuance is overseen by the HKMA.
What's unclear
The draft text of the amendment bill has not been published.
The reports do not state whether the bill will complete the lawmaking process before the end of 2026.
Sources · 3 publishers
Cointelegraph
Tier 1
Hong Kong officials double down on end-2026 deadline for crypto licensing bill
Crypto Briefing
Tier 2
Hong Kong government reaffirms end-2026 deadline for crypto licensing bill
Coverage timeline
- First reported by Blockonomi
- Confirmed by Cointelegraph
- CryptoVideos brief published
- 1 more publisher added to sources
How this brief was made. Our system found this event in 3 independent publications, summarised two complete reports with AI and checked every number above against the source text. Sources are linked in full. Not financial advice. Report an error
