TLDR
- Hong Kong issued its first stablecoin licenses to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial on April 10.
- Anchorpoint Financial is backed by Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, and HKT.
- The HKMA said both firms are listed under the Stablecoins Ordinance register.
- Hong Kong received 36 stablecoin license applications under the new framework.
- The licensed issuers plan to launch stablecoin business in the coming months.
HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial have become the first licensed stablecoin issuers in Hong Kong. The move marks a new step in the city’s digital asset rules. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority confirmed the approvals on April 10. Both firms were added to the official register under the Stablecoins Ordinance. The news keeps focus on HSBC and Anchorpoint as the first companies to clear the process.
Hong Kong grants first stablecoin issuer licenses
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority issued the first two stablecoin licenses to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial. The regulator confirmed the approvals on Friday. The licenses took effect on April 10.
The official register now lists The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Anchorpoint Financial Limited. Anchorpoint Financial is a joint venture. Its partners are Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, and HKT.
INTEL: Hong Kong grants first stablecoin issuer licenses to HSBC and a Standard Chartered led joint venture with Animoca Brands and HKT pic.twitter.com/kfvOyokD64
— Solid Intel 📡 (@solidintel_x) April 10, 2026
Hong Kong had expected to issue the first licenses in the first quarter. That deadline passed without approvals. The regulator asked applicants to improve several parts of their filings.
Those areas included reserve asset disclosures and anti-money laundering controls. The HKMA also reviewed redemption methods and stress testing plans. After that work, HSBC and Anchorpoint became the first successful applicants.
HKMA sets out its reasons for the approvals
The stablecoin rules took effect in August 2025. Under that system, any firm issuing stablecoins in Hong Kong must hold a license. The framework is part of the city’s wider digital asset policy.
Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, described the approvals as a key step. He said, “The granting of stablecoin issuer licences is an important milestone for the development of digital assets in Hong Kong.” He also said the regime supports innovation and user protection.
Yue added that the system provides an orderly operating environment for issuers. He said it also supports effective risk management. The regulator wants a healthy and responsible stablecoin market.
He also said the licensed firms will now prepare for launch. According to the HKMA, both issuers expect to start business in the coming months. The regulator said it expects them to follow their stated plans.
More applicants are waiting under Hong Kong’s new regime
In February, Yue said the HKMA had received 36 applications under the stablecoin framework. That number showed broad interest in the new regime. It also showed how active the local market has become.
HSBC and Standard Chartered are both note-issuing banks in Hong Kong. The HKMA had said it would prioritize that group when granting stablecoin licenses. That made them strong early candidates under the new rules.
A second group of applicants is also moving forward. Last month, Caixin reported that firms such as Futu Securities and OSL Group may join later rounds. OSL Group already holds a crypto exchange license in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has been building its crypto rulebook since 2022. The city introduced exchange licensing rules and later added stablecoin rules. It also launched a stablecoin sandbox in 2024 for testing under supervision.
Yue said, “We look forward to the issuers launching business according to their plans, exploring growth opportunities while properly managing risks.” He added that regulated stablecoins should help solve real problems in finance and business. For now, HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial hold the first licenses, and they lead Hong Kong’s next phase in regulated stablecoins.
