Cryptocurrency trade Huobi World is searching for a license in Hong Kong, because the Chinese language particular administrative area considers new licensing and regulatory strikes that may enable them to serve retail clients.
The brand new framework, which requires crypto exchanges to register with the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Fee (SFC), would enable the trade to develop its providers to the town. Huobi additionally plans to open a brand new trade named Huobi Hong Kong that may consider institutional and high-net-worth people, based on a tweet thread by Justin Solar.
The SFC has recently opened the brand new Hong Kong licensing proposals for public remark, with the brand new regime to enter impact in June. Information of the anticipated modifications led to financial services providers lining up to participate within the new, expanded system in December.
Thrilling information! Huobi is stoked about Hong Kong’s pro-crypto insurance policies & we’re working onerous to safe our crypto license there. Our goal is to be one of many first totally compliant exchanges in HK & collaborate with our Asia-Pacific customers to drive digital asset progress! #Huobi #Crypto pic.twitter.com/ktZw1WE2cs
— Huobi (@HuobiGlobal) February 20, 2023
Solar said in an interview with Nikkei Asia that Huobi might enhance its workers in Hong Kong from 50 to 200 this yr. Solar mentioned Hong Kong’s friendlier stance on crypto and the potential of retail gross sales motivated the enlargement.
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Huobi announced a layoff of 20% of its workers in January, characterizing it as a part of the corporate’s restructuring after Solar’s takeover in October. The trade introduced in February that it was closing down its Huobi Cloud Pockets in Might, as a consequence of “strategic and product changes.“
In accordance with Nikkei Asia, Huobi can also be contemplating shifting its headquarters to Hong Kong from Singapore.
Huobi is increasing providers in different areas as effectively. It introduced in January that it’s launching a Visa-backed crypto-to-fiat debit card that Huobi clients residing within the European Financial Space will be capable to use worldwide. That card is predicted to be accessible within the second quarter of this yr.