Hong Kong To Inspect Crypto Platforms' Offices

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Fee (SFC) has lately introduced it should conduct in-site workplace inspections for the crypto platforms searching for licensing. The watchdog highlighted that the 18 “deemed-to-be-licensed” candidates must endure the examination to obtain approval of their software.

SFC Broadcasts Crypto Inspection

On Tuesday, the SFC revealed that it could examine the platforms making use of to turn out to be licensed digital asset buying and selling platforms (VATPs) in Hong Kong. The examination will happen within the coming months whereas the deemed-to-be-licensed VATP candidates pursue their purposes.

The on-site inspection will give attention to the crypto platforms’ safeguarding of consumer belongings and Know-Your-Buyer (KYC) processes to find out the corporate’s compliance with the SFC’s regulatory necessities.

Excerpt of the SFC’s announcement. Supply: SFC

The inspection findings “will feed into the license software course of,” which requires VATPs and their house owners to adjust to all relevant legal guidelines and laws. In line with the announcement, any violation or non-compliance of key regulatory necessities will outcome within the license being denied.

Furthermore, failing to fulfill buyers’ safety laws through the inspection may outcome within the SFC taking different regulatory actions in opposition to crypto platforms if it considers them obligatory.

The regulator additionally reminded the candidates they need to adjust to all of SFC’s regulatory necessities and licensing circumstances through the software course of. These circumstances embody stopping Mainland Chinese language residents from accessing the platforms’ digital asset-related companies, advertising and marketing their companies, or onboarding retail customers.

The SFC doesn’t anticipate these candidates to actively market their companies or onboard new retail purchasers previous to demonstrating the precise implementation and effectiveness of their insurance policies, procedures, methods, and controls to the satisfaction of the SFC and being formally licensed.

Non-Contravention Interval Ends This Week

Within the announcement, the SFC identified that the important thing deadline was approaching. Hong Kong’s watchdog reminded crypto platforms that the non-contravention interval for VATPs working within the jurisdiction ends on June 1, 2024.

As reported by Bitcoinist, the SFC issued a brand new regulatory guideline that required all VATPs working in Hong Kong to submit a license software by February 29. After the deadline, the crypto platforms that didn’t apply for a license had a non-contravention interval below the Anti-Cash Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO).

Nevertheless, by June 1, all VATPs remaining within the space should be licensed or “deemed-to-be-licensed” VATP candidates below the AMLO. The businesses that proceed to function after the designated interval will face authorized actions:

It’s a prison offense to function a VATP in Hong Kong in breach of the AMLO, and the SFC will take all applicable actions in opposition to any breaches of the regulation.

As the top of the non-contravention interval approaches, Hong Kong’s regulator urged buyers within the space to commerce digital belongings solely on SFC-licensed platforms. Moreover, Hong Kong buyers had been reminded that the VATP candidates should not formally licensed regardless of endeavor measures to adjust to the SFC.

On the time of this writing, solely HashKey Change and OSL Change are licensed VATPs working within the space. The opposite 18 VATPs await the SFC’s resolution on their license purposes.