A spokesperson for HTX said that Huobi HK operates independently from HTX. Huobi HK did not immediately respond to The Block’s request for comment.
The Hong Kong SFC stipulates that crypto trading platforms that fail to submit their license applications by Feb. 29 will need to close down their businesses in Hong Kong by May 31.
Unlike its neighboring Chinese mainland’s broader crackdown on crypto trading and mining, Hong Kong rolled out the welcome mat for crypto firms last year. In June 2023, Hong Kong officially started its crypto licensing regime for virtual asset trading platforms, allowing licensed exchanges to offer retail trading services. Hong Kong has granted licenses to two platforms — HashKey and OSL.
Many global exchanges have applied for such retail trading licenses. The financial regulator is officially reviewing applications from 19 crypto firms, including OKX, Bybit, Bullish and Crypto.com, according to its website. HKVAEX, a crypto platform reportedly linked to Binance, applied for the same license on Jan. 4, according to the SFC’s list of applicants.
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