- Standard Chartered Bank, Animoca Brands, and HKT have applied for a stablecoin issuer license in Hong Kong through their joint venture, Anchorpoint Financial Limited.
- The application was formally submitted to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on August 1, 2025, as the Stablecoins Ordinance 2025 took effect.
- The companies are among the first to pursue regulatory approval under Hong Kong’s new stablecoin framework.
- Anchorpoint Financial has participated in the HKMA’s Sandbox program since July 2024.
- The HKMA expects to approve the first batch of stablecoin licenses in early 2026.
Standard Chartered Bank, Animoca Brands, and HKT have started the process to become authorized stablecoin issuers in Hong Kong. Their joint venture, Anchorpoint Financial Limited, officially expressed interest in a license to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on August 1, 2025. This marked the first day the Stablecoins Ordinance 2025 became law, which introduces new regulations for stablecoins in the city.
The move positions these companies at the forefront of Hong Kong’s developing stablecoin sector. They are among the earliest applicants under the new licensing regime. Anchorpoint Financial has taken part in the HKMA’s sandbox program since July 2024, allowing firms to trial new products under regulatory oversight.
Evan Auyang, group president of Animoca Brands, said, “Animoca Brands is proud to partner with Standard Chartered and HKT to form Anchorpoint in applying for a stablecoin issuer license under the HKMA, with a view to bringing stablecoins into the mainstream financial ecosystem in Hong Kong.” He highlighted the role of stablecoins as an important part of the Web3 digital economy, and said, “Stablecoins represent one of the most compelling use cases within Web3, and we believe we are still at the early frontier of widespread adoption across institutions and retail alike.”
Auyang also stated, “As assets continue to move on-chain, the HKMA-regulated fiat-referenced stablecoin is important in reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial center.” The Standard Chartered strategy includes exploring a stablecoin backed by the Hong Kong dollar, supporting their efforts in the regulatory sandbox and their broader digital asset ambitions.
The Stablecoins Ordinance 2025 requires issuers of stablecoins backed by government currency to obtain a license from the HKMA. This framework brings legal clarity for companies aiming to issue stablecoins in Hong Kong. According to the HKMA, the first set of stablecoin licenses could be approved early next year.
As work on these applications continues, the entry of well-known financial and technology firms shows how established players are moving into the regulated stablecoin space in Hong Kong.
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