The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission urges investors to check the regulatory status of virtual asset trading platforms.

According to an official announcement by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) on February 6th, investors are advised to only trade virtual assets on licensed virtual asset trading platforms certified by the SFC. If investors are unsure about the regulatory status of the virtual asset trading platform they are using, they can check the SFC's list of licensed virtual asset trading platforms. Specifically, investors should check whether the virtual asset trading platform is listed on the "List of Licensed Virtual Asset Trading Platforms" and the "List of Virtual Asset Trading Platform Applicants". Virtual asset trading platforms listed on the "List of Licensed Virtual Asset Trading Platforms" have been officially certified by the SFC. Virtual asset trading platforms listed on the "List of Virtual Asset Trading Platform Applicants" include virtual asset trading platforms that are currently operating in Hong Kong and have submitted licensing applications to the SFC by February 29, 2024. Investors should periodically and always check the regulatory status of virtual asset trading platforms by March 1, 2024, as virtual asset trading platforms operating in Hong Kong that have not submitted licensing applications to the SFC by February 29, 2024, must cease their operations in Hong Kong by May 31, 2024, according to the transitional arrangements of the SFC's regulatory regime for virtual asset trading platforms.