The SFC publishes the following lists on its website to inform the public of the regulatory status of virtual asset trading platforms operating in Hong Kong or actively marketing their services to Hong Kong investors:
List of licensed virtual asset trading platforms
This list sets out the names of virtual asset trading platform operators which are formally licensed by the SFC. For further information on the platform operator, please click on the CE Reference link or visit the SFC Public Register.
By publishing this list, the SFC does not guarantee the performance or creditworthiness of any SFC-licensed virtual asset trading platform.
| CE Reference | Company name of virtual asset trading platform operator | Virtual asset trading platform | Date of licence | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Chinese | |||
| BPJ213 | OSL Digital Securities Limited | OSL數字證券有限公司 | OSL Exchange | 15/12/2020 |
| BPL992 | Hash Blockchain Limited | Hash Blockchain Limited | HashKey Exchange | 09/11/2022 |
| BPW549 | Hong Kong Virtual Asset Exchange Limited |
香港虛擬資產交易所有限公司 | HKVAX |
03/10/2024 |
List of virtual asset trading platform applicants
This list sets out the names of virtual asset trading platform operator applicants (VATP applicants) whose licence applications have yet to be approved by the SFC [Note 1] and includes those which are deemed-to-be-licensed VATP applicants as of 1 June 2024. All VATP applicants on this list are NOT licensed by the SFC, and may NOT be in compliance with the SFC’s requirements. It should also be noted that the SFC has NOT formally licensed the deemed-to-be-licensed VATP applicants.
The purpose of this list is to enable any member of the public to ascertain whether a virtual asset trading platform has made untrue or misleading misrepresentations regarding its licence application status with the SFC.
Investors should refer to the SFC’s “List of licensed virtual asset trading platforms” set out above for the names of virtual asset trading platform operators which are formally licensed by the SFC. Investors are also reminded to be wary of the risks of trading virtual assets on the platform of a deemed-to-be-licensed VATP applicant (which may not eventually be granted a licence and may be required to close down its business in Hong Kong) or on an unregulated virtual asset trading platform (including any unregulated overseas virtual asset trading platform) [Note 2].
VATP applicants which are not deemed-to-be-licensed should not commence their business activities in Hong Kong, or actively market their services to Hong Kong investors.
List of virtual asset trading platform applicants
| Company name of virtual asset trading platform operator | Virtual asset trading platform | Date of submission of licence application* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Chinese | ||
| Hong Kong BGE Limited | N/A | BGE | N/A# |
| Hong Kong Digital Asset EX Limited^ | 香港數字資產交易集團有限公司^ | HKbitEX | N/A# |
| Victory Fintech Company Limited | 勝利數碼科技有限公司 | VDX | N/A# |
| Panthertrade (Hong Kong) Limited^ | 猎豹交易（香港）有限公司^ | PantherTrade |
15/11/2023 |
| Accumulus GBA Technology (Hongkong) Co., Limited^ | 雲賬戶大灣區科技(香港)有限公司^ | Accumulus | 06/12/2023 |
| DFX Labs Company Limited^ | N/A | DFX Labs | 27/12/2023 |
| NewBX Limited^ | N/A |
Bixin.com | 24/01/2024 |
| Thousand Whales Technology (BVI) Limited^ | N/A | EX.IO | 25/01/2024 |
| HighBlock Limited | N/A | bitV | 06/02/2024 |
| YAX (Hong Kong) Limited^ | N/A | YAX | 07/02/2024 |
| Bullish (GI) Limited^ | N/A | Bullish | 07/02/2024 |
| Foris DAX HK Limited^ | N/A | Crypto.com | 09/02/2024 |
| Whalefin Markets Limited^ | N/A | WhaleFin | 21/02/2024 |
| Flying Hippo Technologies Limited^ | N/A | Matrixport HK | 26/02/2024 |
| Nebulas Hong Kong Limited | N/A | Nebulas Exchange | 25/10/2024 |
* A licence application submitted to the SFC may be returned by the SFC if it is incomplete and/or has unresolved fundamental issues.
# An existing applicant under the SFC’s previous opt-in regime for virtual asset trading platforms.
^ An applicant which is deemed to be licensed pursuant to Schedule 3G to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance – for further information on a deemed-to-be-licensed VATP applicant (such as its business address, email address, website address, and/or licensing conditions), please visit the SFC Public Register.
Notes to investors:
Note 1: This list is updated regularly. Consequently, it may not contain the most up-to-date information regarding the VATP applicants. Application status may change between updates.
Virtual asset trading platform operators which appear on this list may not eventually be granted licences. The names of VATP applicants on this list may be removed due to, amongst others, the following reasons:
- licence applications have been returned by the SFC due to them being incomplete and/or having unresolved fundamental issues; and
- licence applications have been refused by the SFC** or withdrawn by the VATP applicants.
The names of VATP applicants on this list may also be removed if the SFC formally grants the VATP applicant a licence and the name of the VATP applicant will then be added to the above "List of licensed virtual asset trading platforms".
** A refusal by the SFC may not be immediately reflected in this list as the refusal only takes effect in accordance with the laws.
Note 2: The risks of trading virtual assets on an unregulated virtual asset trading platform, include, amongst others:
- investors may risk losing their entire investment held on the virtual asset trading platform if it ceases operation, collapses, is hacked or otherwise suffers from any misappropriation of assets; and
- seeking recourse against virtual asset trading platforms that do not have a nexus with Hong Kong is likely to be difficult and legal remedies may not be available.
Other important information about the List of virtual asset trading platform applicants
List of applicants whose licence applications have been returned, refused or withdrawn
This list sets out the names of VATP applicants which have been removed from the "List of virtual asset trading platform applicants" (List of VATP applicants) due to their corresponding licence applications being returned, refused or withdrawn.
The names of VATP applicants may be added to this list due to, amongst others, the following reasons:
- licence applications have been returned by the SFC due to being incomplete and/or having unresolved fundamental issues; and
- licence applications have been refused by the SFC** or withdrawn by the VATP applicants.
List of applicants whose licence applications have been returned, refused or withdrawn
| Company name of virtual asset trading platform operator | Virtual asset trading platform | Date of submission of licence application | Date of removal from List of VATP applicants | Reason for removal from List of VATP applicants* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Chinese | ||||
|
AMMBR (HK) LIMITED |
N/A | Ammbr | 29/09/2023 | 06/10/2023 | Withdrawn |
| BitHarbour (Hong Kong) Limited | 幣風港(香港)有限公司 | BitHarbour | 11/01/2024 | 29/01/2024 | Withdrawn |
| Meex Digital Securities Limited | N/A | Meex | 12/10/2023 | 07/02/2024 | Returned |
| HBGL Hong Kong Limited | N/A | Huobi HK | 20/02/2024 | 23/02/2024 | Withdrawn |
| BX SERVICES LIMITED | N/A | HKVAEX | 04/01/2024 |
28/03/2024 | Withdrawn |
| Willows Asia Technology Company Limited | 永浩亞洲科技有限公司 | IBTCEX |
22/02/2024 | 13/05/2024 | Withdrawn |
| QuanX Lab Limited | 全毅科技有限公司 | QuanXLab | 29/02/2024 |
13/05/2024 | Withdrawn |
| HBGL Hong Kong Limited | N/A | Huobi HK | 26/02/2024 | 14/05/2024 | Withdrawn |
| Gate Digital Limited | N/A |
Gate.HK | 28/02/2024 | 22/05/2024 | Withdrawn |
| OKX Hong Kong FinTech Company Limited | N/A | OKX | 16/11/2023 |
24/05/2024 | Withdrawn |
| Hong Kong VAEXC Limited | N/A | VAEX | 25/11/2023 | 24/05/2024 | Withdrawn |
| Spark Fintech Limited | N/A | Bybit | 31/01/2024 | 31/05/2024 | Withdrawn |
| hi5 (Hong Kong) Limited | N/A | HKX |
29/02/2024 | 17/07/2024 | Withdrawn |
| Hong Kong Digital Asset Xchange Limited | N/A | HKDAX | 27/08/2024 | 09/10/2024 | Withdrawn |
| Bitcoin World Technology Limited | N/A | bitcoinworld |
17/05/2024 | 10/10/2024 | Returned |
* This list merely sets out the SFC’s reason for removal of an applicant from the List of VATP applicants.
** A refusal by the SFC may not be immediately reflected in this list as the refusal only takes effect in accordance with the laws.
List of closing-down virtual asset trading platforms
This list sets out the names of virtual asset trading platform operators required by law to close down within a specified period.
Investors should refer to the SFC's "List of licensed virtual asset trading platforms" set out above for the names of virtual asset trading platform operators which are formally licensed by the SFC. Investors are also reminded to be wary of the risks of trading virtual assets on platforms which are required to close down.
During the closing down period, these platform operators are not allowed to provide their services except when such act is done solely for the purpose of closing down their businesses. They are also required by the SFC to cease all marketing activities which target Hong Kong investors.
List of closing-down virtual asset trading platforms
| Company name of virtual asset trading platform operator | Virtual asset trading platform | Addresses (business address, email address and/or website address) |
Date by which it is required to be closed down | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Chinese | |||
|
- - |
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Last update: 31 Oct 2024