Will Hong Kong’s ‘regulatory clarity’ on crypto forge a path to global hub status?


In late 2022, Syed Musheer Ahmed packed his bags and departed Hong Kong. The founder of fintech advisory firm FinStep Asia headed for Dubai, where he joined the founding team of the Gulf city’s new digital-asset regulator, Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).

Like many in Hong Kong’s crypto scene at the time, Ahmed was drawn by the Middle East’s regulatory clarity – a stark contrast to the uncertainty and Covid-19 restrictions still lingering in his adopted home.

“Dubai came up as a good alternative” at that time, Ahmed recalled, noting that few places were offering crypto licensing for a large enough market then.

Now, Ahmed is back – and the Hong Kong he has returned to is very different from the one he left.

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What’s the hype about stablecoins?

What’s the hype about stablecoins?

As Hong Kong’s Web3 regulations take shape and the city pushes to revive its digital-asset industry after a prolonged slump, Ahmed’s return reflects a broader shift. Industry insiders said Hong Kong now had a prime opportunity to leverage its unique status as a “superconnector” and provide the regulatory certainty that highly mobile crypto firms were searching for in a fragmented global landscape.
Hong Kong is expanding its digital-asset framework to encompass stablecoins, tokenisation and a broader Web3 infrastructure. As part of this push, the city is set to issue its first batch of stablecoin licences this month, with further legislation for digital-asset dealing and custodial services planned for the summer.
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