Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), stated that the first round of applications for stablecoin licenses has been received from 36 institutions. The HKMA is currently assessing these applications and aims to make a decision as soon as possible, issuing the first batch of licenses in March. Yue noted that the regulator has requested supplementary information from some applications. Since the initial submissions mainly focused on basic information required for licensing, further verification will be needed regarding key elements such as specific application scenarios, risk management arrangements, and the composition of reserve assets. Provided the information is complete, the HKMA will strive to complete the first batch of licenses in March, but emphasized that the number of licenses in the first batch will be limited, and the process will proceed with caution and prudence.