Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission releases guidelines for crypto staking services

From Cointelegraph

April 7, 2025 5:52 AM:

The Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong has released new guidelines for crypto exchanges offering staking services and locally authorized funds exposed to digital assets involved in staking. The regulator recognizes the benefits of staking and allows exchanges to provide staking service offerings.

New rules require exchanges to obtain approval before offering staking services, retain control over staked assets, and disclose all relevant risks to customers. Crypto fund operators must follow similar guidelines if more than 10% of their net asset value is in digital assets, with leveraged exposure prohibited.

Hong Kong’s SFC executive director of investment products, Christina Choi, supports the Web3 space but urges caution. Recent reports show a downturn in the NFT market, with Bybit and X2Y2 shutting down their marketplaces. Hong Kong ranks third in the Global Financial Centres Index and provides clear guidelines for crypto firms.

Choi encourages Web3 companies to choose Hong Kong as their headquarters due to its regulatory clarity and access to Asian markets. The city’s financial technology sector has seen significant growth, with the SFC introducing the ASPIRe roadmap to position Hong Kong as a global cryptocurrency hub, focusing on market access, compliance, and blockchain efficiency.

Read more at Cointelegraph: Hong Kong introduces crypto staking rules, reaffirms Web3 commitment