Hong Kong awards first stablecoin licenses to HSBC, Standard Chartered

Hong Kong granted its first two stablecoin issuer licenses to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial, a Standard Chartered-led consortium that includes Animoca Brands on Friday. The approvals by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the territory’s central bank, mark the first batch under the Stablecoins Ordinance, which took effect in August 2025. “We look forward to the issuers launching business according to their plans, exploring growth opportunities while properly managing risks,” HKMA chief executive Eddie Yue said in an announcement on Friday. “We hope their promotion of regulated stablecoins will address pain points in financial and economic activities, create values for…