Animoca Brands Pursues Stablecoin License in China Hong Kong With Standard Chartered, HKT

Animoca Brands, a prominent Web3 investment firm, is moving to strengthen its financial infrastructure by pursuing a stablecoin issuer license in China Hong Kong. The initiative is being led by Anchorpoint Financial Limited, a newly formed entity created in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT). On August 1, Anchorpoint submitted a formal statement of interest to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), marking the initial step in the licensing process under the recently enacted “Stablecoins Ordinance.” This regulatory shift mandates that fiat-backed stablecoin issuers obtain approval from the HKMA, with the ordinance taking effect on the same date [1].

This strategic move aligns with broader efforts to integrate blockchain-based financial tools with traditional systems. The partnership aims to explore the issuance of a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin, potentially building on the HKMA’s sandbox initiative launched in July 2024. This initiative is designed to foster innovation that bridges Web3 technologies with conventional finance, offering regulated environments for experimentation and development [1].

Evan Auyang, Chairman of Animoca Brands, emphasized that the venture will enhance Hong Kong’s status as a global financial hub while ensuring compliance with HKMA oversight. Animoca Brands, already licensed in jurisdictions including Dubai, Singapore, and France, continues to prioritize regulatory alignment as part of its global expansion strategy. The company has a history of integrating digital assets into mainstream finance, particularly through entertainment and gaming platforms, but this initiative signals a broader push into the stablecoin market [2].

Standard Chartered Bank has also positioned itself at the forefront of digital finance, recognizing the potential of stablecoins to improve transactional efficiency and expand financial inclusion. Its collaboration with Animoca Brands highlights the convergence of traditional banking and blockchain innovation, as both seek to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape in Asia [3].

In a broader context, China Hong Kong’s regulatory developments reflect a growing trend of governments seeking to balance innovation with investor protection. With other markets such as Vietnam also moving to create structured frameworks for digital assets, the region is becoming an increasingly attractive hub for fintech and blockchain innovation [4]. Animoca Brands’ timing in pursuing the license coincides with global efforts to mainstream digital currencies, including engagements with key players like Tether and Nasdaq Technology [5].

The pursuit of a stablecoin license by Anchorpoint Financial represents not only a significant step for Animoca Brands but also a demonstration of the increasing institutional confidence in digital assets. As the application progresses, the alignment of issuance protocols, reserve management, and compliance measures with regulatory requirements will remain critical to its success.

Sources:

[1] Standard Chartered forms joint venture to issue stablecoins (https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/pulse/article/7302399)

[2] Kaia Square (https://square.kaia.io/)

[3] Crypto Short News – Latest Real-Time Updates (https://coinpedia.org/crypto-live-news/)

[4] Domestic, international players eye Vietnam's pilot digital ... (https://vietnamnet.vn/en/domestic-international-players-eye-vietnam-s-pilot-digital-asset-market-2429860.html)

[5] Binance Alpha to Introduce Baby Shark Universe (BSU) (https://m.economictimes.com/crypto-news-today-live-08-aug-2025/liveblog/123173392.cms)