On June 28 (UTC+8), the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) released consultation papers indicating that virtual asset over-the-counter (OTC) platforms will be included in the SFC's regulatory scope. According to the new regulations, businesses ranging from Cryptocurrency trading, withdrawals, and fiat currency exchange to brokerage activities and block trades will be required to apply for a license from the SFC. The regulatory requirements are stricter than the previous regulations that required OTC platforms to apply for a license from Customs, with a minimum paid-up share capital of HK$5,000,000 for trading service providers and HK$10,000,000 for custodians, and the requirement to have two responsible officers approved by the SFC. (Source: Mlion.ai) [MetaEra]