Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) reminds investors to trade virtual assets only on SFC-licensed virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs). If they are not certain about the regulatory status of the VATP they are currently dealing with, they can check the SFC’s Lists of virtual asset trading platforms.

In particular, investors should check whether a VATP is on the “List of licensed virtual asset trading platforms” or on the “List of virtual asset trading platform applicants”. VATPs on the “List of licensed virtual asset trading platforms” are formally licensed by the SFC. VATPs on the “List of virtual asset trading platform applicants” include VATPs operating in Hong Kong which have submitted licence applications to the SFC on or before 29 February 2024.

Investors should check the regulatory status of a VATP from time to time and in any event on 1 March 2024. This is because VATPs operating in Hong Kong which have not submitted their licence applications to the SFC by 29 February 2024 must close down their businesses in Hong Kong by 31 May 2024 pursuant to the transitional arrangements under the SFC’s regulatory regime for VATPs.

For investors dealing with VATPs operating in Hong Kong which are not on the “List of licensed virtual asset trading platforms” or on the “List of virtual asset trading platform applicants”, they are urged to make preparations early, before 31 May 2024, such as by closing their accounts with these VATPs or transferring to SFC-licensed VATPs for trading virtual assets.

The SFC, however, reminds the public that the applications submitted by applicants on the “List of virtual asset trading platform applicants” are still being processed and they may – or may not – be approved; hence, trading on these platforms carries a risk.

Last but not least, the SFC strongly urges investors to trade virtual assets only on SFC-licensed VATPs because they may leave themselves unprotected by trading on unlicensed platforms.