​​JPEX scandal won’t hurt Hong Kong crypto vision: Financial Secretary


The Hong Kong authorities says the latest $165 million alleged scandal involving crypto alternate JPEX received’t stifle its Web3 imaginative and prescient for the area.

In a Nov. 2 keynote at Hong Kong Fintech Week, the area’s Secretary for Monetary Providers and the Treasury Christopher Hui mentioned the saga hasn’t affected the federal government’s plan.

“We’ve been requested many occasions whether or not JPEX will have an effect on our willpower to develop the Web3 market — the reply is a transparent ‘no.’”

Hui was referring to the monetary scandal involving the Dubai-based alternate JPEX the place over 2,500 Hong Kongers allege they have been defrauded, prompting the Securities and Futures Fee (SFC) to warn that JPEX was promoting its services locally with no license.

Hong Kong mentioned it would tighten its crypto rules after JPEX’s alleged actions. Moreover, the SFC arrange a task force with the police to take care of illicit crypto alternate actions and updated its policies on crypto gross sales and necessities.

Hui mentioned “quite a lot of issues are happening on the regulatory entrance” — a part of the federal government’s future Web3 regulatory plans see the SFC issuing steerage on tokenized securities and the tokenization of SFC-authorized funding merchandise.

Hui discusses the federal government’s plans for its Web3 regulatory framework. (Cointelegraph/Tom Mitchelhill)

Crypto rules may even be expanded to cowl shopping for and promoting “past trades happening on now-regulated buying and selling platforms,” Hui mentioned.

Associated: Hong Kong advances CBDC pilot, bringing e-HKD trials to phase 2

A “a lot wanted” joint stablecoin session by the Hong Kong Financial Authority (HKMA) and the Monetary Providers and the Treasury Bureau can be set to drop quickly, which is able to take suggestions from a January HKMA discussion paper.

Experiences earlier this 12 months mentioned the HKMA pressured banks to offer providers to crypto firms within the area. Hui mentioned the HKMA will seek the advice of the sector on steerage for banks offering crypto custodial providers.

Journal: Chinese police vs. Web3, blockchain centralization continues: Asia Express

Extra reporting by Tom Mitchelhill.