Hong Kong’s new stablecoin regulations will come into effect in August 2025

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced that it will start implementing its landmark Stablecoin Ordinance in August this year.

According to the official notice, the region’s stablecoin regulations will come into effect starting on August 1, 2025. Once it is formally implemented, businesses would need to obtain licenses in order to issue stablecoins tied to the Hong Kong dollar or operating in the region.

First drafted last May 2025, the bill has evidently been accelerated to advance the region’s budding crypto industry. The main purpose behind the new stablecoin bill, stated in the announcement, is to ensure that all activities involving stablecoins will be regulated.

The new licensing regime will also limit stablecoin advertisements to licensed issuers in an effort to prevent scams.

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui, said in his statement that the government will provide clear guidelines for industry players interested in delving into the stablecoin market.

“After the Ordinance comes into effect, the licensing system will provide appropriate regulations for relevant stablecoin activities marking a milestone in promoting the sustainable development of the stablecoin and digital asset ecosystem in Hong Kong,” said Hui in a translated statement.

Based on information from the site, the Hong Kong government is planning to issue two separate notices to the Legislative Council on June 11 to start the pre-formulation and post-vetting process for the stablecoin bill.

The new stablecoin regulation also contains a clause that regulates qualified investors, granting them the ability to issue stablecoins even if they do not hold a license yet. However, it is still unclear whether retail investors still have to abide to certain requirements dictated by financial regulators in order to issue their own stablecoins.

“As specified categories of persons, thereby allowing specified stablecoins issued by persons who have not been granted a licence under Section 15 of the Ordinance to be offered to professional investors,” stated authorities in the translated notice.

As previously reported by crypto.news, Hong Kong has accelerated its stablecoin regulation so that it may be passed within this year. This move beats out other Asian regions like South Korea, who have only just begun suggesting Korean won-based stablecoins.