{"id":1895,"date":"2026-05-22T04:19:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T04:19:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/?p=1895"},"modified":"2026-05-29T11:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T11:32:10","slug":"stablecoin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/stablecoin\/","title":{"rendered":"Stablecoin Wins Licenses but Not Market Success"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=&#8221;Hong Kong\u2019s Stablecoin Wins Licenses, but Not Market Success&#8221; header_fullscreen=&#8221;on&#8221; background_overlay_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.54)&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Title&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; title_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; title_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DJI_20251214181827_0008_D-topaz-denoise-scaled.jpg&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; title_text_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; content_text_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">by Jiang Junzhe<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|off&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||-80px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|150px||150px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|off&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #f75c26;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"dropcap\">H<\/span>ong Kong\u2019s stablecoin entered a new phase on Apr.10, 2026, when the city\u2019s first batch of licenses finally arrived.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Hong Kong Monetary Authority selected only two issuers, HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial, the Standard Chartered-HKT-Animoca joint venture, from the 36 applicants.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The long-awaited rollout was the centrepiece of the city&#8217;s race to turn digital assets from a speculative sideshow into a regulated part of its financial future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, for long-term observers of Hong Kong\u2019s ambitions to position itself as a world-leading digital asset hub, the conservative approval list tells more than just the licenses themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The first winners came from established financial institutions, suggesting that, when Hong Kong finally opened the door, the cautious, traditional system&#8217;s institutional preferences remained firmly in place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWe believe this signals that the regulator will take a conservative approach, with banks, rather than less-regulated types of players, in the forefront of this market development,\u201d said S&amp;P Global Ratings in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spglobal.com\/ratings\/en\/regulatory\/article\/digital-assets-brief-hong-kong-makes-a-conservative-start-to-stablecoin-issuance-s101675075?utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_source=social\">research note<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The scene also brought a harder question back into focus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hong Kong passed its domestic stablecoin ordinance in May, which came into force on August 1, 2025, setting strict requirements for license holders on capital, reserves, and redemption, making clear that Hong Kong prioritised trust and control over speed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But regulatory architecture alone won\u2019t create demand. For a city with one of the world\u2019s most tightly controlled stablecoin regimes, who would be the real users of Hong Kong dollar stablecoins, and why?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The answer runs into two stubborn realities: a domestic payments system that already works, and a global digital asset market that the US dollar already owns.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;mobile&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|on&#8221; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||-80px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|on&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #f75c26;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"dropcap\">H<\/span>ong Kong\u2019s stablecoin entered a new phase on Apr.10, 2026, when the city\u2019s first batch of licenses finally arrived.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Hong Kong Monetary Authority selected only two issuers, HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial, the Standard Chartered-HKT-Animoca joint venture, from the 36 applicants.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The long-awaited rollout was the centrepiece of the city&#8217;s race to turn digital assets from a speculative sideshow into a regulated part of its financial future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, for long-term observers of Hong Kong\u2019s ambitions to position itself as a world-leading digital asset hub, the conservative approval list tells more than just the licenses themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The first winners came from established financial institutions, suggesting that, when Hong Kong finally opened the door, the cautious, traditional system&#8217;s institutional preferences remained firmly in place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWe believe this signals that the regulator will take a conservative approach, with banks, rather than less-regulated types of players, in the forefront of this market development,\u201d said S&amp;P Global Ratings in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spglobal.com\/ratings\/en\/regulatory\/article\/digital-assets-brief-hong-kong-makes-a-conservative-start-to-stablecoin-issuance-s101675075?utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_source=social\">research note<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The scene also brought a harder question back into focus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hong Kong passed its domestic stablecoin ordinance in May, which came into force on August 1, 2025, setting strict requirements for license holders on capital, reserves, and redemption, making clear that Hong Kong prioritised trust and control over speed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But regulatory architecture alone won\u2019t create demand. For a city with one of the world\u2019s most tightly controlled stablecoin regimes, who would be the real users of Hong Kong dollar stablecoins, and why?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The answer runs into two stubborn realities: a domestic payments system that already works, and a global digital asset market that the US dollar already owns.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-40px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|off&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|150px||150px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;subtitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-17px||43px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The Regulator\u2019s Constraints<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Body Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Johnny Ng Kit-chong, a Hong Kong lawmaker and a prominent voice in the city&#8217;s digital asset policymaking, said the regulations are robust and comprehensive when asked about whether the stablecoin ordinance would limit the city\u2019s stablecoin development in a Zoom call.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt (the ordinance) is suitable for Hong Kong, and also for the market,\u201d Ng said. \u201cIt is also well accepted by the industry players because we have 36 applicants running in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, for those who stayed in, the experience showed that Hong Kong was not building a flexible crypto framework but was instead transplanting traditional finance onto the blockchain.<\/p>\n<p>Tim Sun, a senior researcher at Hashkey, said over the phone that the industry\u2019s main complaint is exactly that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hong Kong has extended the traditional financial regulatory logic to stablecoins,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Objectively, this will limit high-speed growth. Some exchanges and issuers have simply moved to Dubai, where conditions are more relaxed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Justin D&#8217;anethan, the head of partnerships at the crypto investment specialist firm Arctic Digital, argued that stablecoins should be a flexible payment method, but the city\u2019s framework made it \u201cheavy and clunky\u201d in a WhatsApp call.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of people in Hong Kong, especially for the regulator, think it needs to be a big thing,\u201d D\u2019anethan said. \u201cThey have the banking mentality where they need the right compliance thing, the right legal team, the product and the branding and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beijing&#8217;s stance is more nuanced than simple opposition.<\/p>\n<p>Last November, the People&#8217;s Bank of China reaffirmed its ban on virtual currencies on the Chinese mainland, but left Hong Kong&#8217;s experiment untouched, with tolerance rather than endorsement.<\/p>\n<p>Sun argued that although Beijing\u2019s regulations are getting stricter, it\u2019s great to open a window for Hong Kong as a sandbox.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the most important factors is that Hong Kong is under the control of the central government, which means Hong Kong\u2019s framework has already aligned with Beijing,\u201d he said. \u201cUnder the framework of &#8216;One country, two systems\u2019 and Hong Kong\u2019s status as a free financial zone, we still have much flexibility to test on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>D\u2019anethan shared a similar reading: \u201cI do think the Hong Kong regulation is totally dependent on the green lights and the go-ahead of Beijing, but I actually think that Beijing is probably supportive of testing things in Hong Kong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-40px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;mobile&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|on&#8221; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;subtitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-17px||43px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The Regulator\u2019s Constraints<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Body Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Johnny Ng Kit-chong, a Hong Kong lawmaker and a prominent voice in the city&#8217;s digital asset policymaking, said the regulations are robust and comprehensive when asked about whether the stablecoin ordinance would limit the city\u2019s stablecoin development in a Zoom call.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt (the ordinance) is suitable for Hong Kong, and also for the market,\u201d Ng said. \u201cIt is also well accepted by the industry players because we have 36 applicants running in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, for those who stayed in, the experience showed that Hong Kong was not building a flexible crypto framework but was instead transplanting traditional finance onto the blockchain.<\/p>\n<p>Tim Sun, a senior researcher at Hashkey, said over the phone that the industry\u2019s main complaint is exactly that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hong Kong has extended the traditional financial regulatory logic to stablecoins,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Objectively, this will limit high-speed growth. Some exchanges and issuers have simply moved to Dubai, where conditions are more relaxed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Justin D&#8217;anethan, the head of partnerships at the crypto investment specialist firm Arctic Digital, argued that stablecoins should be a flexible payment method, but the city\u2019s framework made it \u201cheavy and clunky\u201d in a WhatsApp call.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of people in Hong Kong, especially for the regulator, think it needs to be a big thing,\u201d D\u2019anethan said. \u201cThey have the banking mentality where they need the right compliance thing, the right legal team, the product and the branding and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beijing&#8217;s stance is more nuanced than simple opposition.<\/p>\n<p>Last November, the People&#8217;s Bank of China reaffirmed its ban on virtual currencies on the Chinese mainland, but left Hong Kong&#8217;s experiment untouched, with tolerance rather than endorsement.<\/p>\n<p>Sun argued that although Beijing\u2019s regulations are getting stricter, it\u2019s great to open a window for Hong Kong as a sandbox.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the most important factors is that Hong Kong is under the control of the central government, which means Hong Kong\u2019s framework has already aligned with Beijing,\u201d he said. \u201cUnder the framework of &#8216;One country, two systems\u2019 and Hong Kong\u2019s status as a free financial zone, we still have much flexibility to test on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>D\u2019anethan shared a similar reading: \u201cI do think the Hong Kong regulation is totally dependent on the green lights and the go-ahead of Beijing, but I actually think that Beijing is probably supportive of testing things in Hong Kong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|off&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|150px||150px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;subtitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-100px||43px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Where\u2019s The Demand?<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The deeper problem may not be regulatory at all. Industry players pointed out that the fundamental question remains: what is a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin actually for?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a sense, the Hong Kong dollar is already a form of stablecoin because it\u2019s pegged to the US dollar and backed by the US treasury bonds,\u201d Sun said. \u201c So the question of what purpose a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin actually serves is the biggest challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Given that Hong Kong already had well-established payment systems, such as Octopus, WeChat, and Alipay, it would be faster for retail consumers to use those methods rather than stablecoins, he added.<\/p>\n<p>Kristi Swartz, a partner at the fintech-specialised law firm DLA Piper, said the case for applying Hong Kong dollar stablecoins is real but narrow in an email.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRegional corporate treasuries and multinational groups with Hong Kong as their Asia headquarters may take advantage of Hong Kong dollar stablecoins in their \u2018back office\u2019, behind-the-scenes payment operations,\u201d she said. \u201cThese clients already operate in Hong Kong dollars, routinely manage intra-group funding and cash concentration across time zones where SWIFT cut-offs, nostro prefunding and delayed finality impose real costs and risk.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, Wilkie Chen, a researcher at TRON, argued in a written statement that stablecoins are built to outperform existing payment tools, not just replicate them, since they are cheaper, faster, and safer than traditional ones, and that\u2019s also a necessity of why the stablecoins should exist.<\/p>\n<p>In the near term, he estimated that the growing number of Chinese technology companies expanding into overseas markets could make Hong Kong dollar stablecoins serve as an efficient settlement layer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith more Chinese AI firms seeking business in foreign markets, it\u2019s more efficient for them to choose Hong Kong dollar stablecoins as a transaction method, and it makes Hong Kong more attractive for technology firms,\u201d Chen said.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Swartz compared the city\u2019s situation to Europe, where major banks have already adopted a MiCA-compliant Euro stablecoin to support settlement, treasury flows, and tokenised assets rather than retail payments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen banks themselves decide that tokenised money is necessary infrastructure, the use case is no longer theoretical,\u201d Swartz said. \u201c In that sense, Hong Kong is converging with Europe.\u201d<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stable-coin-1.png&#8221; title_text=&#8221;stable coin (1)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|150px||150px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;mobile&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|on&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|on&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;subtitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-100px||43px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Where\u2019s The Demand?<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The deeper problem may not be regulatory at all. Industry players pointed out that the fundamental question remains: what is a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin actually for?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a sense, the Hong Kong dollar is already a form of stablecoin because it\u2019s pegged to the US dollar and backed by the US treasury bonds,\u201d Sun said. \u201c So the question of what purpose a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin actually serves is the biggest challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Given that Hong Kong already had well-established payment systems, such as Octopus, WeChat, and Alipay, it would be faster for retail consumers to use those methods rather than stablecoins, he added.<\/p>\n<p>Kristi Swartz, a partner at the fintech-specialised law firm DLA Piper, said the case for applying Hong Kong dollar stablecoins is real but narrow in an email.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRegional corporate treasuries and multinational groups with Hong Kong as their Asia headquarters may take advantage of Hong Kong dollar stablecoins in their \u2018back office\u2019, behind-the-scenes payment operations,\u201d she said. \u201cThese clients already operate in Hong Kong dollars, routinely manage intra-group funding and cash concentration across time zones where SWIFT cut-offs, nostro prefunding and delayed finality impose real costs and risk.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, Wilkie Chen, a researcher at TRON, argued in a written statement that stablecoins are built to outperform existing payment tools, not just replicate them, since they are cheaper, faster, and safer than traditional ones, and that\u2019s also a necessity of why the stablecoins should exist.<\/p>\n<p>In the near term, he estimated that the growing number of Chinese technology companies expanding into overseas markets could make Hong Kong dollar stablecoins serve as an efficient settlement layer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith more Chinese AI firms seeking business in foreign markets, it\u2019s more efficient for them to choose Hong Kong dollar stablecoins as a transaction method, and it makes Hong Kong more attractive for technology firms,\u201d Chen said.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Swartz compared the city\u2019s situation to Europe, where major banks have already adopted a MiCA-compliant Euro stablecoin to support settlement, treasury flows, and tokenised assets rather than retail payments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen banks themselves decide that tokenised money is necessary infrastructure, the use case is no longer theoretical,\u201d Swartz said. \u201c In that sense, Hong Kong is converging with Europe.\u201d<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stable-coin-1.png&#8221; title_text=&#8221;stable coin (1)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|150px||150px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|off&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|150px||150px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;subtitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-100px||43px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The Dominant US Dollar Digital Assets<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whatever domestic use case eventually emerges, the external competition remains structural, and it is being made harder by forces beyond the HKMA&#8217;s control.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The top 10 issuers are all pegged to the US dollar assets. Among those, Tether and Circle lead the market with 66.5% and 28% of market distribution, respectively, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/stablecoin.com\/market-cap\/\">stablecoin.com<\/a>.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act on Jul. 18, 2025, which requires stablecoins to be fully backed by liquid US dollar assets and short-term Treasury bills, allowing Washington to set the standards for a rapidly expanding segment of digital finance.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The federal framework favoured US dollar stablecoins as a way to extend the use of the dollar through decentralised, privately issued instruments that could circulate globally.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Regarding the Act, Swartz noted that it would raise the commercial bar for competing with US dollar stablecoins and make it harder for non-dollar stablecoins to secure cross-border contracts.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cContracts gravitate toward what counterparties, auditors, and courts understand,\u201d she said. \u201cUS dollar stablecoins benefit from deep liquidity, existing hedging markets, and legal familiarity.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">She anticipated the market would be bifurcated with US dollar stablecoins dominating globally, while non-US dollar stablecoins playing critical regional and functional roles.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">D\u2019anethan acknowledged the challenge on scale, noting that it\u2019s a matter of relevance when we look at volume, and said it\u2019s meaningless to compare it to the transaction volume of USDT (Tether) or USDC (Circle), given the small volume of Hong Kong dollar stablecoins.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI think for the Hong Kong dollar to be at least relevant, you would want to see something like $100 million equivalent to flow among providers,\u201d he explained. \u201cLet&#8217;s say $100 million split between four issuers is $25 million. Is that relevant? Absolutely not.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He still thought there was no direct competition between the US and the Hong Kong dollar stablecoins, as the city\u2019s stablecoin would only appeal to local users in local transactions, which US dollar stablecoin users wouldn\u2019t see.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the same vein, Chen said the Hong Kong dollar stablecoin would focus more on local transactions and the Southeast Asia market.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThe US dollar dominates global digital asset flows because of its reserve currency status. That is not going to change anytime soon,\u201d he explained. \u201cIf in a certain region, Hong Kong dollar settlement is a necessary or relatively friendly option, then it can be more attractive than US dollar stablecoins.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;mobile&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|on&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;subtitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-100px||43px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The Dominant US Dollar Digital Assets<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whatever domestic use case eventually emerges, the external competition remains structural, and it is being made harder by forces beyond the HKMA&#8217;s control.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The top 10 issuers are all pegged to the US dollar assets. Among those, Tether and Circle lead the market with 66.5% and 28% of market distribution, respectively, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/stablecoin.com\/market-cap\/\">stablecoin.com<\/a>.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act on Jul. 18, 2025, which requires stablecoins to be fully backed by liquid US dollar assets and short-term Treasury bills, allowing Washington to set the standards for a rapidly expanding segment of digital finance.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The federal framework favoured US dollar stablecoins as a way to extend the use of the dollar through decentralised, privately issued instruments that could circulate globally.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Regarding the Act, Swartz noted that it would raise the commercial bar for competing with US dollar stablecoins and make it harder for non-dollar stablecoins to secure cross-border contracts.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cContracts gravitate toward what counterparties, auditors, and courts understand,\u201d she said. \u201cUS dollar stablecoins benefit from deep liquidity, existing hedging markets, and legal familiarity.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">She anticipated the market would be bifurcated with US dollar stablecoins dominating globally, while non-US dollar stablecoins playing critical regional and functional roles.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">D\u2019anethan acknowledged the challenge on scale, noting that it\u2019s a matter of relevance when we look at volume, and said it\u2019s meaningless to compare it to the transaction volume of USDT (Tether) or USDC (Circle), given the small volume of Hong Kong dollar stablecoins.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI think for the Hong Kong dollar to be at least relevant, you would want to see something like $100 million equivalent to flow among providers,\u201d he explained. \u201cLet&#8217;s say $100 million split between four issuers is $25 million. Is that relevant? Absolutely not.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He still thought there was no direct competition between the US and the Hong Kong dollar stablecoins, as the city\u2019s stablecoin would only appeal to local users in local transactions, which US dollar stablecoin users wouldn\u2019t see.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the same vein, Chen said the Hong Kong dollar stablecoin would focus more on local transactions and the Southeast Asia market.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThe US dollar dominates global digital asset flows because of its reserve currency status. That is not going to change anytime soon,\u201d he explained. \u201cIf in a certain region, Hong Kong dollar settlement is a necessary or relatively friendly option, then it can be more attractive than US dollar stablecoins.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|off&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|150px||150px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;subtitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-100px||43px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The Bridge That Still Needs To Be Built<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although Hong Kong stablecoins could face many challenges, analysts and industry players are optimistic about the currency\u2019s digital future.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ng, the lawmaker, is bullish on the broader future.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHong Kong has a stable government and a progressive system, so I think Hong Kong is a very good place for doing business, not only in financial business but also in any other business,\u201d he said.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, D\u2019anethan was less certain. <br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI think it will have some measure of success. I think one or two players will emerge as the winners,\u201d he said. \u201cWill the Hong Kong dollar stable coin have an impact on the crypto space and on the global scene? I don&#8217;t think so.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI think it&#8217;s just a bit too small and most of the big transactions are US dollars anyway,\u201d he added.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For participants who are advising clients right now, the answer is still cautious. <br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Swartz said her honest advice would be &#8220;probably better to wait and see&#8221;, and companies should experiment with stablecoins for internal company transfers, digital asset transactions, and test payments with partners they already trust.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cStablecoins are no longer a fringe concept,\u201d Swartz said. \u201cBetween Hong Kong, Europe and the US, we are watching money itself become programmable, slowly, carefully, and institutionally.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;mobile&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|on&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;subtitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato|700|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-100px||43px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The Bridge That Still Needs To Be Built<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although Hong Kong stablecoins could face many challenges, analysts and industry players are optimistic about the currency\u2019s digital future.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ng, the lawmaker, is bullish on the broader future.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHong Kong has a stable government and a progressive system, so I think Hong Kong is a very good place for doing business, not only in financial business but also in any other business,\u201d he said.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, D\u2019anethan was less certain. <br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI think it will have some measure of success. I think one or two players will emerge as the winners,\u201d he said. \u201cWill the Hong Kong dollar stable coin have an impact on the crypto space and on the global scene? I don&#8217;t think so.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI think it&#8217;s just a bit too small and most of the big transactions are US dollars anyway,\u201d he added.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For participants who are advising clients right now, the answer is still cautious. <br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Swartz said her honest advice would be &#8220;probably better to wait and see&#8221;, and companies should experiment with stablecoins for internal company transfers, digital asset transactions, and test payments with partners they already trust.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cStablecoins are no longer a fringe concept,\u201d Swartz said. \u201cBetween Hong Kong, Europe and the US, we are watching money itself become programmable, slowly, carefully, and institutionally.\u201d<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-70px||||false|false&#8221; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;credit&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato||||||||&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong>Illustrated by<\/strong><\/em> Bunnie Shen and <strong><em>photographed by<\/em><\/strong> Isco Zhang<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;credit&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato||||||||&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Extra Credits<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;name&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Lato||||||||&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.8em&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-8px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Advisor<\/strong><br \/><span data-sheets-root=\"1\">Feng Wang<\/span><br \/><strong>Editor in Chief<\/strong><br \/>Clarisse Choo<br \/><strong>Creative Directors<\/strong><br \/>Syrena Jin<br \/>Cheryl Xie<br \/>Serena Zhou<br \/><strong>Managing Editor<\/strong><br \/>Jiachen Li<br \/><strong>Copy Editor<\/strong><br \/>Grace Yu<br \/><strong>Visual Producer<\/strong><br \/>Huang Jingyi<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hong Kong handed out its first Stablecoin licenses but the harder question remains unanswered: in a city where payments already work and the US dollar rules crypto, what is a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin actually for?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":3542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[71],"class_list":["post-1895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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