Hong Kong’s largest online bank competes with banking giants for Web3 market


  • Hong Kong’s ZA Bank has 30-50 licensed crypto entities queuing up to open accounts.
  • China SAR’s largest online bank to offer compliant entities financial services while traditional banks hit AML roadblocks.
  • Licensed crypto entities in Hong Kong can avail of services in fiat currencies, the virtual bank does not custody cryptocurrencies.

Hong Kong’s banking giants recently delayed the onboarding of crypto entities, awaiting further clarity and updates to Anti-Money Laundering regulation. However, virtual bank ZA is working on welcoming licensed web3 entities in Hong Kong, looking for fiat banking services.

Also read: El Salvador’s Bitcoin bet pays off as bonds surge 62% alongside BTC rally

Hong Kong’s online bank works on offering services to complaint entities

China’s Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) largest online bank told Colin Wu, a Chinese reporter, how the bank is working on welcoming licensed web3 entities to Hong Kong. ZA bank currently has 30-50 crypto clients lined up for onboarding. The virtual bank will offer fiat-based financial services to crypto clients since the bank does not offer custody for virtual assets yet.

Banking giants have held back from the web3 market due to concerns with the expected changes in AML regulations, citing money-laundering concerns surrounding crypto firms.

Web3 and crypto entities that have received licenses from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) can sign up for banking services with the virtual banks.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority convened a meeting with Web3 companies and banks, and the regulator asked banks to guide virtual asset companies on account opening. Mainland web3 companies seeking to open accounts in Hong Kong can bank with the virtual bank and use licensed crypto exchanges for cryptocurrency-related transactions.


Like this article? Help us with some feedback by answering this survey:



Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

Is Altcoin Season here as Bitcoin reaches a new all-time high?

Is Altcoin Season here as Bitcoin reaches a new all-time high?

Bitcoin reaches a new all-time high of $98,384 on Thursday, with altcoins following the suit. Reports highlight that the recent surge in altcoins was fueled by the victory of crypto-friendly candidate Donal Trump in the US presidential election.

More Altcoin News
Shanghai court confirms legal recognition of crypto ownership

Shanghai court confirms legal recognition of crypto ownership

A Shanghai court has confirmed that owning digital assets, including Bitcoin, is legal under Chinese law. Judge Sun Jie of the Shanghai Songjiang People’s Court shared this opinion through the WeChat account of the Shanghai High People’s Court.

More Cryptocurrencies News
BTC hits an all-time high above $97,850, inches away from the $100K mark

BTC hits an all-time high above $97,850, inches away from the $100K mark

Bitcoin hit a new all-time high of $97,852 on Thursday, and the technical outlook suggests a possible continuation of the rally to $100,000. BTC futures have surged past the $100,000 price mark on Deribit, and Lookonchain data shows whales are accumulating.

More Bitcoin News
Shiba Inu holders withdraw 1.67 trillion SHIB tokens from exchange

Shiba Inu holders withdraw 1.67 trillion SHIB tokens from exchange

Shiba Inu trades slightly higher, around $0.000024, on Thursday after declining more than 5% the previous week. SHIB’s on-chain metrics project a bullish outlook as holders accumulate recent dips, and dormant wallets are on the move, all pointing to a recovery in the cards.

More Shiba Inu News
Bitcoin: New high of $100K or correction to $78K?

Bitcoin: New high of $100K or correction to $78K?

Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high of $93,265 in the first half of the week, followed by a slight decline in the latter half. Reports highlight that Bitcoin’s current level is still not overvalued and could target levels above $100,000 in the coming weeks.

Read full analysis
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.

Read More

BTC

ETH

XRP