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Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency
News and analysis about non-fiat, decentralised assets used as digital currencies, including bitcoin, ether, altcoins and stablecoins.
Hong Kong police have arrested 69 people linked to a syndicate suspected of laundering about HK$200 million from cross-border investment fraud. Photo: Getty Images
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 69 over laundering HK$200m from cross-border fraud

Suspects aged 18 to 60 held in joint operation targeting syndicate using mule accounts to launder proceeds from investment scams.

US-China relations

Trump urged to press Xi on Chinese money laundering tied to Mexican cartels

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Banking & finance

Hong Kong taps group of experts to help rewrite rules for tokenised bonds

Art

French museum reports theft of banana from multimillion-dollar artwork

Pompidou-Metz museum contacts police after a guard notices Maurizio Cattelan’s iconic duct-taped centrepiece has vanished.

A visitor looks at the “Comedian” artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan at the Centre Pompidou-Metz in Metz in May last year. On Sunday, 2025. (Photo by Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION
HKEX

Open Questions | Charles Li on making Hong Kong a magnet for global IPOs

As HKEX CEO, Charles Li forged Stock Connect link to mainland markets. He says an ‘IPO connect’ could draw international companies to list in Hong Kong.

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Stablecoins

Letters | Mind the gap between Hong Kong digital asset policy and practice

Readers discuss digital asset audits, the danger of setting a ride-hailing cap, and the bigger picture on allowing dogs in restaurants.

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SFC

Hong Kong finalises crypto regulatory framework to lock in global hub ambitions

Under the new rules, firms providing advice or market analysis on virtual asset trading must meet strict capital requirements.

A Bitcoin shop in Admiralty, Hong Kong, February 6, 2026. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong minister touts gold as ‘bridge between conventional and new finance’

Treasury chief Christopher Hui also says city opted against separate regulatory authority for digital assets to support ‘convergence’.

Art

Are NFTs the hero or villain in the contemporary art scene?

In March, Art Basel Hong Kong featured a dedicated space for digital practices, raising the question: what’s next for non-fungible tokens?

United States

Trump family’s crypto project sues billionaire backer Justin Sun

The Trumps’ World Liberty Financial accused Sun of launching a ‘public smear campaign’.

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Justin Sun at Korea Blockchain Week 2025 in Seoul. Photo: Reuters
Stablecoins

Hong Kong a key global hub for USDC cross-border payments: Circle CEO

Circle recently announced a partnership with Hong Kong-listed OSL Group to expand USDC offerings in the city.

Circle hopes to see USDC approved as a foreign stablecoin in Hong Kong. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Thailand

Thailand to extradite Indonesian man in US$10 million scam targeting Americans

The suspect allegedly hired models to lure targets into phoney investment schemes over video calls, dating apps and social media.

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Yuan

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

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Hong Kong courts

Ex-manager of crypto firm Huobi acquitted of moving millions into account

Chen Boliang accessed crypto platform now known as HTX to trade in dark pool under individual account, which is prohibited under regulations.

Huobi began operations in mainland China in 2013 but pulled out of the country amid Beijing’s cryptocurrency crackdown in 2021. Photo: Handout
Investing

Chinese economist Fu Peng hails crypto’s historic rise as he joins Bitfire

The crypto asset management firm acquires a trading system and hires a team of 20 people from Avenir Group for US$1.6 million.

Chinese economist Fu Peng has joined Bitfire Group as chief scientist. Photo: Handout
Banking & finance

Open Questions | Euro, yuan unlikely to match US dollar, Daniel Gros says

German economist doubts EU and Chinese currencies will be widely used for international trade or that stablecoins will take off outside the ‘shadow economy’.

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United States

Billionaire Justin Sun sues Trump family crypto venture

The entrepreneur says his WLFI assets were frozen by World Liberty Financial, and he has been unable to resell the electronic currency.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong’s stablecoin roll-out puts banks at the centre of digital money

Hong Kong is building a bank-led digital money system, not a cryptocurrency free-for-all.

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Bank and commercial buildings dot the skyline in Hong Kong’s Central business district in 2020. Photo: Sun Yeung
North Korea

North Korea’s Lazarus suspected of stealing US$290 million from KelpDAO

Ethereum was ‘drained’ from KelpDAO in the biggest known cryptocurrency heist so far this year.

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Stablecoins

Hong Kong lawmaker swipes at US lack of ‘clarity’ as city eyes crypto lead

Hong Kong has granted its first two licences for stablecoin issuers, and is pushing forward regulations on crypto dealers and custodians.

China digital currency

Hong Kong seen leading Asia in push to scale stablecoins, HSBC says

Interoperability and real-world applications seen as key hurdles as city looks to unlock tokenisation’s full potential.

As part of its push to establish itself as a global cryptocurrency hub, Hong Kong has developed a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. Photo: Jelly Tse
Fintech

How PayMe’s 3.3 million users and Hong Kong firms could start using stablecoins

HSBC eyes retail stablecoin roll-out via PayMe in second half of 2026, as Standard Chartered-led joint venture focuses on institutions first.

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HSBC is looking to introduce stablecoins by integrating them into its popular PayMe app. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Banking & finance

Calls grow for HKMA to go further on stablecoins after conservative first batch

Analysts and investors say the HKMA’s cautious approach prioritises risk control, but limits Hong Kong’s digital asset ambitions.

Fintech

HSBC, StanChart-led group among first to get stablecoin licences in Hong Kong

HSBC will launch its Hong Kong dollar stablecoin in the second half of this year, integrating it into its PayMe and mobile banking platforms.

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Banking & finance

OKX Ventures, HashKey Capital back Vietnam crypto platform’s pilot scheme bid

Under pilot rules, at least 65 per cent of capital must come from institutional investors and foreign ownership is capped at 49 per cent.

This photo taken on February 12, 2026 shows a Vietnamese cryptocurrency investor looking at the latest bitcoin values on a smartphone in Hanoi. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong is not competing with US stablecoins or the digital renminbi

Readers discuss the city’s stablecoin ambitions, the use of e-payments, and the role eHealth could play in stroke prevention.

A visitor displays a cup of coffee purchased with China’s digital yuan, or the e-CNY, at the Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province, on April 26, 2023. Photo: Xinhua
Banking & finance

Editorial | Stablecoin launch delay shows Hong Kong would rather be safe than sorry

Given the complexity involved, it’s wise not to rush to meet any self-imposed deadline but to make sure a good framework is in place first.

Scams and swindles

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

Cambodia has vowed to stamp out the scam compounds on its soil by month’s end – but perpetrators remain drawn to the potential for huge profits.

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