HKU Business School May Accept Bitcoin for Tuition

Hong Kong's top business school, the University of Hong Kong's Business School (HKU), is preparing to accept Bitcoin and other digital assets for tuition and donations. The technical work is complete, and the rollout is expected soon. This move aims to send a message that digital currencies are no longer experimental but tools that can operate within regulated systems. Hong Kong is rapidly becoming a global leader in virtual assets, with regulators introducing a stablecoin licensing system and the first approvals expected in 2026.

The University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) business school, one of Asia’s top-ranked institutions, is set to accept Bitcoin and other digital assets for tuition fees and donations, according to Professor Hongbin Cai, the dean of the HKU Business School and Chair of Economics. This initiative was announced at the CryptoFi Forum, where Professor Cai emphasized that all technical details have been sorted out and the school is actively exploring digital currencies for payments [1].

HKU Business School has confirmed to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that it is committed to building a secure, sustainable framework to drive research, innovation, regulation, and real-world adoption of digital currencies with its partners. The school’s decision to accept Bitcoin and digital assets reflects its openness to financial innovation and comes at a time when Hong Kong is positioning itself as a global virtual asset hub [1].

This move follows the recent launch of a stablecoin licensing regime by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), which requires issuers of fiat-referenced stablecoins to be licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission. The regime encompasses strict compliance standards, including capital requirements, risk controls, redemption rights, and anti-money laundering protocols [2].

PetroChina, one of China's largest state-owned energy enterprises, has also expressed interest in the stablecoin licensing policy. The company plans to conduct a feasibility study on using stablecoins for cross-border settlement and payments, highlighting the growing acceptance of digital currencies in traditional industries [3].

The acceptance of Bitcoin and digital assets for tuition and donations at HKU Business School is part of a broader trend of institutional adoption of digital assets. BitMart, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has been accelerating institutional Bitcoin adoption through education, partnerships, and risk-mitigation frameworks. BitMart’s initiatives have correlated with a significant increase in institutional Bitcoin allocations, with 59% of institutions expected to allocate at least 10% to Bitcoin by mid-2025 [4].

The Nasdaq debut of American Bitcoin (ABTC) in September 2025 further underscores the institutionalization of Bitcoin. ABTC, backed by the Trump family, Hut 8, and the Winklevoss brothers, combines low-cost mining with treasury purchases to scale Bitcoin holdings while mitigating volatility risks [5].

In conclusion, the University of Hong Kong Business School’s decision to accept Bitcoin and digital assets for tuition and donations reflects a broader trend of institutional adoption and regulatory acceptance of digital currencies. As Hong Kong continues to position itself as a global virtual asset hub, the integration of digital currencies into traditional financial systems is likely to accelerate.

References:
[1] https://cryptobriefing.com/bitcoin-tuition-payments-hong-kong/
[2] https://www.lookonchain.com/feeds/26848
[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/strategic-crypto-education-driving-institutional-adoption-bitcoin-2508/
[4] https://www.ainvest.com/news/trump-backed-nasdaq-debut-american-bitcoin-high-conviction-play-bitcoin-accumulation-institutional-adoption-2508/