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As of 2025, Hong Kong has secured its place as one of the leading crypto hubs across the globe, beating several global financial centers. The country is also known as the world’s most “crypto-ready” location in 2025. It is also considered the second most friendly crypto city in the world, offering the most structured and secure environments for digital trading.
Hong Kong has expanded the role of cryptocurrency in its economy by licensing crypto exchanges and allowing crypto for investments. In addition, it is planning to enable spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs to be listed in the economy.
Table of contents
Notable Regulatory Crypto Developments in Hong Kong 2025
August 1, 2025- Stablecoin Ordinance Will Come into Effect
- The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will begin accepting stablecoin license applications from August 1. Investors will now be able to buy and sell virtual assets only on licensed platforms.
- The move aims to regulate fiat-referenced stablecoins and promote digital asset activities in the nation. The guidelines cover supervision of licensed issuers, as well as AML and CTF requirements.
July 5, 2025 – Hong Kong issues Third Tokenized Green Bond
- The government is preparing to launch its third tokenized green bond while also introducing stamp duty relief for exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
- Financial Secretary Christopher Hui verified that the bond issuance will be a continuation of two past batches of tokenized green bonds at the end of 2023 and 2025.
June 27, 2025- Expansion of Hong Kong’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Regime
- Hong Kong’s Financial Services and Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) jointly drafted papers to increase the country’s regulatory regime for virtual assets.
- It included a proposition for virtual asset custodian services, licensing, anti-money laundering, and other risk-mitigating protocols.
21 May 2025- Stablecoin bill
- Expanding its crypto licensing framework to cover fiat-backed stablecoins.
- Creates a formal licensing regime for Fiat Referred Stablecoin (FRS) issuers. It aims to create a trusted digital asset ecosystem with real-world impact.
19 February 2025- Roadmap for digital asset framework
- The roadmap for Access, Safeguards, Products, Infrastructure, and Relationships (ASPIRe) for virtual assets (VA).
- It aims to update financial infrastructure to leverage blockchain technology and strengthen compliance and product frameworks.
16 January 2025- VATP license
- New applicants for a virtual asset trading platform (VATP) license will be subjected to a revamped and expedited external assessment process.
- This approach establishes a tripartite agreement among the SFC, the VATP applicant, and the external assessor.
AML and CFT regulation
- Apart from this, Hong Kong updated the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) ordinance to align with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations 15. According to this approach, VASPs fall under AML and CFT regulations.
- This broad supervisory approach by SFC imposes penalties on violations, such as tampering with records can result in fines up to HKD (Hong Kong dollar) 1,000,000 and imprisonment.
Who Are The Crypto Regulators in Hong Kong?
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)-
The primary regulatory body for cryptocurrency in Hong Kong is to ensure that crypto businesses and all digital assets platforms follow the guidelines follow AML and CFT regulations.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)-
Oversees the broad financial stability related to crypto trading and regulates stablecoin, ensuring the issuers obtain a license and comply with strict requirements. It is the central banking institution that includes reserve management and client fund segregation.
The virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs)-
Functions in crypto regulation by protecting investors from cyber scams and ensuring AML and CFT. Its primary role is to oversee the licensing by the SFC.
Hong Kong’s Crypto Taxation Framework in 2025
- Capital tax: No capital tax gains are imposed on crypto profits, which clarifies that crypto investments are generally free.
- Income tax: Individuals who are engaged in crypto businesses on a frequent professional basis may need to pay income tax since their crypto activities will be considered as income.
- Tax rate: Profits classified as crypto business are subject to income tax from 15% to 16.5%. The distinction between tax-free and taxable business depends on the frequency of transactions, the holding period, and intent.
- Tax-free activities: Occasional long-term holdings are typically tax-free, while frequent trading with the intent to generate profits is likely subject to income tax. No additional tax is imposed, such as value-added tax (VAT) or goods and services tax (GST).
Crypto tax summary table
| ACTIVITY TYPE | TAX TREATMENT |
| Long-term investment | 0% capital tax |
| Frequent/ professional trading | Taxed as business income |
| Crypto received as salary | Taxed as salary (up to 17%) |
| Corporate crypto trading (local) | Profit tax 16.5% |
| Corporate crypto trading (offshore) | Generally tax-exempt |
Crypto License in Hong Kong 2025
All virtual asset trading platforms (VASPs) are required to obtain a Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) license. Since 2021, the agency has mandated a license requirement that lists only high-liquidity tokens.
Licensees must follow anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) procedures, with strict adherence to risk management, regular audits, transactions monitoring, sanctions compliance, and Travel Rule. SFC also shared a list of exchanges that are properly licensed with the agency to legally operate.
Crypto Adoption in Hong Kong 2025
- Approximately 5.25% of the Hong Kong population actively uses cryptocurrency. SFC has licensed 10 virtual asset trading platforms, making it feasible for investors and users.
- About 393,500 people in Hong Kong are using crypto, making it mainstream. It is one of the top five crypto-friendly cities in the world.
- Crypto Holdings: No official disclosure yet. Policies prioritizing the comprehensive regulatory regime for virtual assets and stablecoins to strike a balance between investors’ protection, financial stability, and innovation.
Summary table of crypto adoption and holdings in Hong Kong.
| Metric | Value Status |
| Estimated crypto users | 393,500 |
| Global adoption rank | 2 |
| User penetration rate | 5.25% |
| Approved coins for trading | Bitcoin, Ether, Avalanche, Chainlink |
| Projected crypto market revenue | US$68.8 million |
| Average crypto holdings (per person) | US$97,500 |
Endnote
Cryptocurrency is thriving in Hong Kong with an enhanced set of regulations in Hong Kong. The no capital tax approach has attracted more people to use digital assets in Hong Kong. As of 2025, the average revenue per user in the cryptocurrency market is estimated to be US$174.9. Crypto experts say, with new regulations, the future cryptocurrency market is expected to reach 393.5k users in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has proved that the stability and growth of cryptocurrency with security and safety is definitely possible.
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FAQs
Yes, crypto is legal in Hong Kong, with licensed exchanges and clear regulations on trading, stablecoins, and taxation.
The SFC and HKMA regulate crypto in Hong Kong, ensuring AML compliance, stablecoin oversight, and trading platform licensing.
About 393,500 people, or 5.25% of the population, actively use cryptocurrency in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong imposes no capital gains tax on crypto, but income from frequent trading is taxed up to 16.5%.
