The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission is expected to issue new licenses again within this month, with plans to explore new areas such as custody services and OTC.

BlockBeats News, February 15th. Ashley Alder, CEO of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), stated that following the implementation of the Virtual Asset Trading Platform (VATP) licensing regime in June 2023, 9 licenses have been issued, with another 9 applications pending approval. It is expected that new licenses will be issued later this month.

Alder revealed that the SFC will establish a formal consultation group for licensed VATPs and develop a roadmap for the development of virtual assets. They plan to explore new areas such as custody services and over-the-counter (OTC) trading, while considering introducing more products and services to enhance market competitiveness.