Tap to Trade in Gate Square, Win up to 50 GT & Merch!
Click the trading widget in Gate Square content, complete a transaction, and take home 50 GT, Position Experience Vouchers, or exclusive Spring Festival merchandise.
Click the registration link to join
https://www.gate.com/questionnaire/7401
Enter Gate Square daily and click any trading pair or trading card within the content to complete a transaction. The top 10 users by trading volume will win GT, Gate merchandise boxes, position experience vouchers, and more.
The top prize: 50 GT.
 has officially accelerated the "Stablecoin Licensing" process to make digital currencies more reliable for daily financial transactions. This move aims to transform the digital asset ecosystem from being merely an investment vehicle into a regulated and transparent financial system.
A New Era Begins in March
According to official statements, the highly anticipated first licenses are expected to be issued by March 2026. However, the process is moving with great precision:
Limited Approval: HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue stated that only a "very small number" of applications will be approved initially.
Strict Oversight: In the first stage, only institutions that meet the highest standards of risk management, transparency, and security will be selected.
Why Was the Licensing Requirement Introduced?
Under the regulation that took effect last year, 36 different organizations applied for a license. The primary objectives of this system are:
Reserve Assurance: Companies issuing stablecoins are required to fully back the digital assets they issue with cash or secure assets.
Prevention of Illegal Transactions: Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls are kept at the strictest level to prevent the system from being abused.
Institutional Integration: The goal is to reduce speculative movements and enable large institutional investors to enter the digital world with confidence.
Hong Kong’s Position in Global Competition
With this move, Hong Kong plans to pull ahead in the race against digital finance hubs like Singapore and Dubai. According to industry analysts, this controlled rollout strategy will ensure the market grows without instability. In terms of integrating Web3 technologies into daily life, Hong Kong is on its way to becoming Asia's safest harbor.
Hong Kong’s stablecoin licenses are the most tangible example of digital currencies evolving from the "wild west" era into an industry governed by the rule of law. With the announcement of the first licensed companies in the coming months, the face of global digital commerce may undergo a significant transformation.