Hong Kong Develops Regulatory Framework for Virtual Assets and Gold Market Expansion

Hong Kong's government is working on the details of a regulatory framework for virtual asset trading and custody services. According to ChainCatcher, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, along with the Securities and Futures Commission, aims to submit a bill to the Legislative Council this year, covering regulations for virtual asset advisory and management services. Additionally, the Hong Kong Stablecoin Ordinance was officially implemented in August 2025, with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority currently processing related license applications. In efforts to establish an international gold trading market, Hong Kong has set a target to expand gold storage by over 2,000 tons within three years, aiming to become a regional gold reserve hub. A governance body for the Hong Kong Gold Central Clearing System, fully owned by the government, has been established, with plans for trial operations of the clearing system to commence this year. Furthermore, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau is studying tax relief measures to optimize the financial center and exploring the possibility of shortening the stock settlement cycle from the current T+2 to T+1.