Hong Kong is in a reasonably difficult state of affairs, making an attempt to be one of the vital outstanding crypto hubs. Even with town’s efforts to create a positive regulatory surroundings, greater than a dozen exchanges battle to get full licenses from the Securities and Futures Fee.
This case, in response to a Bloomberg report, exhibits the challenges mendacity forward for Hong Kong’s crypto ambitions.
Crypto: Nearer Regulatory Scrutiny
The SFC is trying arduous at crypto exchanges, and preliminary outcomes from these aforementioned inspections are sounding the alarm on poor practices.
Studies on this respect have come out, indicating that 11 exchanges maintained unsatisfactory practices, which the powers that be considered proximal to the purpose at which they’d be licensed.
They vary from poor cybercrime safety to over-reliance on a number of high executives managing shopper assets. Crypto.com and Bullish are below investigation. Due to this, their Hong Kong actions lag.
Solely OSL and HashKey have full metropolis licences. Although compliance has been tough, the SFC hopes to situation extra licenses by 2024.
Attorneys mentioned 12 have withdrew their petitions, together with Bybit and Huobi HK, that are well-known. These enterprises more and more concern that the SFC’s strict guidelines could battle with their enterprise practices.
Record of Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchanges that withdrew their license purposes. Supply: Hong Kong SFC
The Affect Of JPEX Scandal
Heightened regulatory scrutiny over the trade follows the JPEX scandal, the place 1000’s of buyers misplaced a mixed whole of greater than $200 million when an unlicensed platform was accused of defrauding 2,600 victims.
The incident has additional accelerated the SFC’s push for strict compliance measures throughout the board. The regulator is zeroing in on client-asset safety and assurance of strong know-your-customer preparations.
The JPEX case clearly depicts that the SFC will not be going to do something which might endanger the integrity of the crypto market in Hong Kong.
It’s placing exchanges that hope for a share of the profitable Hong Kong market in a dilemma. Most of those corporations had ambitions to serve prospects within the mainland, the place buying and selling in cryptocurrency is banned.
Problems come up below the framework of One Nation, Two Programs, the place exchanges at the moment are realizing that they’ll’t service the a lot bigger mainland market from Hong Kong. This might beat back potential buyers and corporations from organising store within the metropolis.
Competing With Different Jurisdictions
This places Hong Kong’s ambitions at odds with its aspirations to be a crypto hub and the rising competitors from Singapore. Though Hong Kong has made some optimistic steps towards having a regulatory framework that’s open and protected, the sluggish tempo of licensing has attracted criticism.
Some observers now surprise if Hong Kong would have the ability to present a pleasant surroundings to crypto corporations in comparison with different areas with extra clarified and inspiring rules.
Prospects aren’t that bleak but, and trade insiders are nonetheless hopeful. If correctly regulated, Hong Kong can regain its former glory as one of many outstanding crypto hubs on the earth.
Featured picture from Getty Pictures, chart from TradingView
