[Hong Kong – April 10, 2026] Hong Kong has reached a pivotal milestone in its journey toward becoming a global digital asset hub. This afternoon, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) officially announced the first list of licensed stablecoin issuers under the new "Stablecoin Ordinance." Following a rigorous vetting process of 36 applicants, HSBC and the Standard Chartered-led joint venture, Anchorpoint Financial, have emerged as the inaugural licensees, receiving licenses FRS02 and FRS01, respectively.
Triggered by this heavyweight positive news, the "Crypto-concept" sector in the Hong Kong stock market witnessed a collective breakout during the afternoon session. Among them, Guotai Junan International (01788.HK) surged by as much as 45% at one point, while Shenwan Hongyuan Hong Kong also recorded gains exceeding 20%, reflecting the capital market’s strong endorsement of Hong Kong’s regulated Web3 ecosystem.
Two Giants: A Deep Convergence of Traditional Finance and Web3
The two licensed entities represent distinct strategic paths, yet both align with the regulator’s demand for "ultra-high credibility."
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HSBC: As Hong Kong’s largest note-issuing bank, HSBC has been licensed directly as a banking entity. Market analysts expect HSBC to leverage its robust clearing network to launch a HKD-pegged stablecoin in the second half of 2026. This asset is expected to be utilized not only for on-chain settlements but also integrated into HSBC's existing wealth management and cross-border payment systems.
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Anchorpoint Financial: This entity showcases powerful cross-sector synergy. It combines the banking infrastructure and reserve management of Standard Chartered (Hong Kong), the massive retail distribution channels of HKT (Hong Kong Telecommunications), and the native Web3 technical expertise of Animoca Brands. This "Bank + Telecom + Web3 Giant" trio aims to penetrate the daily consumer scenarios of Hong Kong residents.
Regulation Becomes Reality: Moving from "Sandbox" to the "Main Stage"
Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, emphasized during a subsequent briefing that the issuance of these licenses marks the formal operational phase of Hong Kong’s stablecoin regulatory framework.
"Regulated stablecoins will effectively address pain points in financial activities, such as cross-border payment delays and compliance risks in Real-World Asset (RWA) settlements. The HKMA will continuously supervise licensees to ensure that reserve assets achieve 100% full backing and remain risk-isolated from the issuers' proprietary assets."
Compared to offshore stablecoins like USDT, Hong Kong-licensed stablecoins offer the distinct advantages of local regulatory recourse and a 1:1 fiat redemption guarantee. This is widely regarded as the "final threshold" for institutional "big money" to enter the crypto market.
Market Analysis: Why Did Brokerage Stocks Rally Most Aggressively?
The surge in Chinese-backed brokerage stocks like Guotai Junan International today was no coincidence. Industry insiders pointed out that with the licensing of stablecoins:
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RWA (Real-World Assets) will see an explosion: Brokerages will be able to use licensed stablecoins to provide real-time clearing and settlement for tokenized Treasury bonds and funds, drastically expanding their business horizons.
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Inflow of Incremental Capital: The opening of regulated channels will attract traditional financial institutions and family offices—previously on the sidelines—to allocate to crypto assets through licensed brokerages.
Future Outlook
According to the business plans of the licensed institutions, the first batch of regulated HKD stablecoins is expected to enter public testing and formal circulation between Q2 and the second half of 2026. By then, Hong Kong citizens may be able to use bank-backed digital Hong Kong dollars in blockchain wallets as easily as using "Faster Payment System" (FPS), achieving a seamless link between Web3 technology and daily life.
