Hong Kong regulators plan to assess the operation of the first two licensed stablecoin issuances before approving any additional applications.
Hong Kong in No Rush To License More Stablecoin Issuers: Local Media
7 May 2026 - 09:39 CEST
Speaking to reporters on 5 May, Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) CEO Eddie Yue repeated the regulator’s cautious stance on the digital assets, which are pegged to the Hong Kong dollar.
He said the launch of the stablecoins should "start steadily" and proceed gradually in order to control risks, according to Chinese-language newspaper Wen Wei Po.
The city’s stablecoin ordinance was enacted in Aug 2025, drawing more than 30 applications. However, the HKMA only approved two licenses in April, after a delay, for banking titan HSBC and venture Anchorpoint Financial, in which Standard Chartered Bank is a member.
The HKMA will wait for the first batch of stablecoins to be launched, which is scheduled for the middle and end of this year. Yue added that the HKMA would manage market expectations to avoid unrealistic expectations on the number of licenses, the media outlet said.
