The next is a visitor put up from Anndy Lian.
Hong Kong has been a serious monetary hub for a few years, and in recent times, it has proven rising curiosity in blockchain and cryptocurrency applied sciences. The federal government of Hong Kong has indicated its assist for the trade’s improvement, and plenty of initiatives are underway to assist create a good surroundings for crypto and blockchain companies.
Hong Kong has a well-established regulatory framework for monetary companies, which has helped entice many crypto and blockchain firms. The Hong Kong Financial Authority (HKMA) has launched a number of initiatives to assist the event of blockchain and digital currencies. For instance, the HKMA is engaged on creating a central financial institution digital forex (CBDC), and has additionally launched a blockchain-based commerce finance platform.
Many energetic blockchain and cryptocurrency communities in Hong Kong present assist and assets for companies and builders within the trade. Many occasions and conferences associated to blockchain and cryptocurrency within the metropolis assist create networking alternatives and promote the trade’s progress.
In December 2022, the Legislative Council of Hong Kong handed an modification to the Anti-Cash Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), introducing a licensing regime for digital asset service suppliers (VASPs).
Hong Kong’s New Regulatory Framework
Hong Kong has just lately applied new regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrency buying and selling and companies. The up to date Anti-Cash Laundering Ordinance is in step with the Monetary Motion Job Pressure (FATF) Advice 15, which requires digital asset service suppliers (VASPs) to stick to anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) laws.
The brand new laws require all VASPs working in Hong Kong to acquire a license from the Securities and Futures Fee (SFC). With no license, people and companies can’t provide VA companies or declare themselves as a supplier.
The Hong Kong authorities intently regulates all actions associated to the availability of digital asset (VA) companies. The time period “VA companies” encompasses a broad vary of digital companies that embody, however should not restricted to:
- (a) Providing digital property on the market or buy repeatedly, leading to a binding transaction; repeatedly introducing or figuring out individuals to different events with the aim of negotiating or concluding digital asset transactions which might be binding or with the cheap expectation of doing so;
- (b) Possessing direct or oblique management over shopper cash or shopper digital property within the provision of such companies.
You will need to observe that crypto buying and selling platforms that enable buying and selling in monetary merchandise comparable to securities and futures contracts should not topic to the brand new licensing regime, as they’re already regulated below the Securities and Futures Ordinance. One other factor to notice is that the brand new licensing necessities lengthen to all crypto exchanges registered in Hong Kong below the Firms Ordinance, together with these primarily based exterior of Hong Kong that actively goal Hong Kong residents of their advertising and marketing efforts.
Prohibition on Unlicensed VA Service Suppliers
The amended Ordinance additionally prohibits unlicensed individuals from performing regulated features associated to the enterprise of offering VA companies. Such features could embody the shopping for or promoting of digital property, managing digital asset portfolios, and offering digital asset custodian companies.
Unlicensed people or companies can’t promote VA companies in Hong Kong. The SFC can take enforcement actions towards unlicensed entities, together with issuing fines and revoking licenses.
Impression on VASPs
The brand new laws have important implications for VASPs working in Hong Kong. The licensing course of is rigorous and requires VASPs to show compliance with AML/CFT necessities. Licensed VASPs are topic to ongoing supervision and monitoring by the SFC.
The licensing course of requires VASPs to offer detailed enterprise data, together with possession construction, administration staff, and threat administration programs. VASPs should additionally conduct buyer due diligence and transaction monitoring to detect and report suspicious actions.
VASPs that fail to adjust to the regulatory necessities could face extreme penalties, together with fines, license revocation, and reputational harm. The laws intention to advertise a secure and secure digital asset market in Hong Kong and defend the pursuits of buyers and shoppers.
Advantages of the New Regulatory Framework
The brand new regulatory framework for digital asset companies in Hong Kong has a number of advantages for VASPs and buyers. Firstly, the laws present readability and certainty in regards to the authorized and regulatory surroundings for digital asset companies in Hong Kong. This readability might help entice extra buyers and companies to the market.
Secondly, the laws promote transparency and accountability within the digital asset market. Licensed VASPs should keep correct data, conduct common audits, and report suspicious actions to the related authorities. These necessities might help deter fraud and different illicit actions available in the market.
Thirdly, the laws assist promote a stage taking part in discipline for all VASPs working in Hong Kong. The licensing course of ensures that each one VASPs meet the identical excessive requirements and are topic to the identical regulatory necessities. This might help create a extra aggressive and truthful marketplace for digital asset companies in Hong Kong.
The best way to get the license?
Crypto companies should acquire a license from the Securities and Futures Fee, the regulatory physique for securities and futures markets. To get a license, the enterprise should go a ‘match and correct’ check that includes felony background checks, AML/CFT efficiency historical past, monetary standing, instructional or different {qualifications}, status, expertise, character, reliability and monetary integrity of the individual. The enterprise should additionally apply for approval of the premises to maintain data or paperwork required below the Ordinance. Moreover, every director of the applicant and the final word proprietor have to be decided as ‘match and correct’ to be related to offering the VA service.
To satisfy the regulatory necessities of the brand new Ordinance, licensed crypto companies should introduce AML/CTF measures, together with buyer due diligence, transaction monitoring and record-keeping, screening purchasers towards worldwide sanctions and watchlists for PEP standing, and screening purchasers in adversarial media. They need to additionally adjust to Journey Rule necessities and appoint an eligible auditor inside one month after turning into a licensed supplier. Moreover, they need to put together monetary statements and different paperwork for prescribed durations and submit them with the auditor’s report back to the Fee inside 4 months after the tip of the monetary yr to which they relate.
The licensed supplier should additionally submit an annual return to the Fee and pay a prescribed charge inside one month after every anniversary of the license’s grant date. Lastly, the licensed individual should notify the Fee in writing of any change in data that the licensed individual or final proprietor has supplied below the necessities of the Ordinance, together with meant cessation of enterprise or intention to vary the handle at which it proposes to offer any VA service.
Closing phrases
The SFC can have broad powers to oversee AML/CTF and regulatory compliance by licensed VASPs, together with imposing sanctions. Companies that function with no license or violate AML guidelines can face important fines and imprisonment for senior administration. Within the case of fraudulent actions or deception involving digital property, fines can attain as much as 10,000,000 HKD (1,277,000 USD) and imprisonment for as much as 10 years.
The brand new laws will come into impact on April 1, 2023. Some provisions, together with licensing necessities, will go into impact on June 1, 2023. Companies are suggested to begin making ready for the brand new laws as quickly as attainable and reviewing their AML/CTF insurance policies and controls to establish potential gaps within the necessities.
General, implementing these new laws is predicted to draw extra institutional buyers to the Hong Kong cryptocurrency market, as they are going to have better confidence within the security and legitimacy of the trade. The transfer additionally brings Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency laws in step with world requirements and greatest practices.
Hong Kong has skilled important occasions since 2019 which have had a serious affect on the town and its individuals. Hong Kong has confronted many challenges, from protests and political unrest to the COVID-19 pandemic to the introduction of nationwide safety regulation and political modifications. I hope the town’s new crypto agenda pushes a essential step ahead. By embracing the alternatives of latest applied sciences, defending buyers, and selling transparency, Hong Kong can proceed to be a pacesetter within the world monetary trade.
Some “#AnndyLian Meals for Thought” earlier than I finish this text:
The Japanese authorities acknowledged early on that permitting retail buyers to take part within the cryptocurrency market may assist drive adoption and promote innovation. My query is: “Will Hong Kong observe Japan’s strategy to permitting retail buyers to commerce cryptocurrencies in a regulated surroundings?”
This may very well be one among their promoting factors. I’m keen to search out out.
