Hong Kong to allow retail investors to buy big-cap crypto tokens in boost to global digital-asset hub ambitions

Hong Kong will allow retail investors to buy big-cap cryptocurrency tokens such as bitcoin and Ether, according to the latest policy proposal by Hong Kong’s securities watchdog.
Retail investors will be allowed to trade liquid digital tokens on licensed virtual-asset platforms, which will provide certain regulatory oversight and investor protections to once vibrant but unregulated cryptocurrency investment activities, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said on Monday.
These platforms, to be licensed through a cryptocurrency regulatory regime that comes into effect on June 1 this year, can only offer what the SFC calls “eligible large-cap virtual assets” to retail investors. Such tokens are included in at least two acceptable indices issued by at least two independent index providers, the SFC said. The consultation period for the policy will end on March 31.