Hong Kong’s stablecoin law holds promise for e-CNY, cross-border flows: Morgan Stanley


Hong Kong dollar stablecoins could become a key link between China’s digital yuan and top global digital assets, potentially transforming cross-border investment and accelerating yuan internationalisation, according to Morgan Stanley.

Local currency-backed stablecoins could provide a pathway for mainland China’s e-CNY – the country’s only legal digital currency backed by the government – to gain a foothold globally while advancing Beijing’s drive to internationalise its currency and counter US dollar dominance, Laura Wang, the bank’s chief China equity strategist, said in a written interview last week.

Hong Kong’s stablecoin ordinance, which took effect at the beginning of the month, allows for real-time, low-cost transactions and is designed to support cross-border use. The e-CNY is backed by the People’s Bank of China and is undergoing a pilot scheme for cross-border payments in Hong Kong.

“In theory, HKD stablecoins could act as a bridge between e-CNY and global digital assets,” said Wang. International investors could convert the world’s largest stablecoins, USDT and USDC, into Hong Kong dollar stablecoins and then into e-CNY, and invest in Hong Kong-listed assets or tokenised securities, she added.

Laura Wang, chief China equity strategist at Morgan Stanley. Photo: Handout
Laura Wang, chief China equity strategist at Morgan Stanley. Photo: Handout

“This creates a pathway for [yuan]-linked capital flows without violating mainland capital controls,” she said. “It also supports [the yuan] internationalisation through offshore channels.”

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