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.

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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.

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