Hong Kong begins discussions to introduce stablecoin regulatory framework

Hong Kong’s central banking establishment, the Hong Kong Financial Authority (HKMA), launched a questionnaire to gauge public opinion on laws for crypto-assets and stablecoins. The state-backed regulator intends to determine a regulatory framework by 2023-24.

HKMA’s “Dialogue Paper on Crypto-assets and Stablecoins” highlights the explosive progress of the stablecoin market when it comes to market capitalization since 2020 and the concurrent regulatory suggestions put forth by worldwide regulators together with america’ Monetary Motion Process Drive (FATF), the Monetary Stability Board (FSB) and The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS).

In response to the HKMA, the present dimension and buying and selling exercise of crypto-assets could not pose a direct risk to the soundness of the worldwide monetary system from a systemic standpoint. Nonetheless, the dialogue paper warned:

“The rising publicity of institutional traders to such belongings as an alternative choice to or to enrich conventional asset lessons for buying and selling, lending and borrowing […] point out rising interconnectedness with the mainstream monetary system.”

Primarily based on the above determine, HKMA’s paper reveals that the worldwide market capitalization stood at about $150 billion in December 2021, “representing about 5% of the general crypto-asset market.” The regulator has additionally shared a listing of eight questions to hunt policy-related suggestions citing 5 doable regulatory outcomes — no motion, opt-in regime, risk-based regime, catch-all regime and blanket ban:

HKMA expects stakeholders to submit their responses by thirty first March 2022, and goals “to introduce the brand new regime no later than 2023/24.”

On an finish notice, the regulator said that payment-related stablecoins have the next potential for being included into the mainstream monetary system and even day-to-day industrial and financial actions. 

Because of this, the HKMA considers increasing the scope of the Cost Methods and Saved Worth Amenities Ordinance (PSSVFO), a regulation that determines the legality of monetary merchandise. 

Associated: Hong Kong actual property large leads $90M increase for crypto financial institution Sygnum

Complementing the native authorities’s pro-crypto intentions, considered one of Hong Kong’s largest property builders Solar Hung Kai invested $90 million in Sygnum, a Swiss financial institution devoted to digital asset holding.

As Cointelegraph reported, the Collection B funding spherical brings Sygnum’s post-money valuation to $800 million, marking a tenfold surge in consolidated revenues from 2021.