Hong Kong regulator requires banks to open accounts for crypto firms
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the region’s central banking institution and regulator, has called on banks to provide services to cryptocurrency firms.
On April 27, the HKMA issued a circular related to the access of corporate customers to banking services. In the document, the regulator has required authorized institutions, referred to as “AIs,” to adopt a risk-based approach in Anti-Money Laundering efforts.
The HKMA also urged the institutions in Hong Kong to pay attention to market developments and take a forward-looking approach to new sectors like the crypto market. Hong Kong’s central bank has specifically required the institutions to help virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in getting banking services, stating:
The regulator stressed that customer due diligence (CDD) measures should be proportionate to the risk level of customers in order not to create an undue burden on the customers.
For example, if a VASP has applied for a license under Hong Kong’s new crypto regulatory regime and only wants to open an account for its own corporate use, AIs should provide the service even before the approval, the HKMA said. The authority wrote:
Additionally, the statement encouraged lenders to train staff and form dedicated divisions to support the crypto industry while avoiding a “wholesale de-risking approach” that turns away new industries or certain nationalities.
The news comes amid Hong Kong preparing to adopt new crypto regulations that will officially allow retail investors to buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). As previously reported, the new crypto licensing regime is scheduled to be enforced on June 1, 2023.
Related: China’s state-affiliated banks onboarding crypto
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