Hong Kong looks to speed up crypto regulation amid rising sector demands

Hong Kong is exploring ways to expedite updates to its crypto regulations in response to the fast-growing global sector.

The fast growth of the crypto sector is pushing Hong Kong to reconsider its regulations, with talks focused on speeding up changes to meet growing industry needs. A proposal raised in the Legislative Council on Dec. 11 highlights the pressure on the government to keep up with the global rise in crypto investments.

In a written response, Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Joseph Chan, admitted that while the virtual assets sector offers financial innovation opportunities, it also presents new “complexities to the financial system.” He emphasized Hong Kong’s commitment to keep up with international standards, noting that the city “has key influence in the regulation and development of VA.”

However, Chan didn’t go into detail on how or when Hong Kong plans to adjust its crypto regulations to stay competitive.

Moreover, some lawmakers have even raised concerns about the need for a more comprehensive approach. There is speculation that Hong Kong could establish a dedicated department or commissioner to oversee crypto policies, following international trends.

One way or the other, the question of whether cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) should be included in Hong Kong’s fiscal reserves still seems to be open. In the meantime, Chan pointed out that crypto-assets are not currently a target asset for Hong Kong’s Exchange Fund.

“It cannot be ruled out that there may be investments involving crypto-assets during the investment operations of the external managers at different points of time, but the relevant proportion is minimal,” Chan said.