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Hong Kong Boosts Fintech Scene with Focus on DeFi and Metaverse
The Hong Kong government is now concentrating on decentralized finance (DeFi) and metaverse technologies to bolster its global fintech reputation.
Recent insights from the Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research (HKIMR), the research arm of the Hong Kong Academy of Finance (AoF), back this strategic shift.
According to the HKIMR report, the DeFi sector has seen remarkable growth, with its market capitalization surging from $6 billion in 2021 to over $80 billion in 2023. Despite this rapid expansion, DeFi still accounts for only 4% of the overall crypto-asset market. The report indicates that over 70% of crypto businesses have yet to fully explore DeFi’s potential.
The report also highlights the challenges DeFi faces, such as governance, compliance, and security issues. However, it remains hopeful about DeFi’s ability to offer innovative financial services. These services can increase automation and financial inclusion, making them a significant component of future financial systems.
Metaverse Engagement Among Financial Institutions
Another report from HKIMR delves into the metaverse, showing a moderate level of engagement from Hong Kong’s financial institutions. Despite the interest, more than half of the respondents (51%) expressed doubts about the metaverse’s future potential. Nonetheless, certain segments of Hong Kong’s fintech sector are actively exploring metaverse-related developments, signaling a growing recognition of its potential.
Enoch Fung, CEO of the AoF and executive director of the HKIMR, commented on the integration of emerging technologies with financial services.
“The emerging technologies of DeFi and the metaverse, which are closely connected to the broader virtual asset and Web3 developments, will likely present various opportunities for the financial services industry in Hong Kong.”
Promoting Hong Kong in the International Tech Scene
Hong Kong officials are actively promoting the city as a premier destination for fintech and Web3 startups. They participated in the Collision 2024 tech conference in Toronto, highlighting Hong Kong’s readiness to serve as an offshore technology hub for Canadian crypto and Web3 businesses. This event was co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto (Toronto ETO), Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), and StartmeupHK (SMUHK).
Despite its efforts to position itself as a crypto-friendly hub, Hong Kong has seen a series of crypto exchange closures. In March 2024, HKVAEX, allegedly linked to Binance, withdrew its license application. This was followed by the exits of IBTCEX, QuanXLab, Huobi HK, Gate.HK, OKX HK, and Bybit (Spark Fintech Limited) in May. As a result, 17 virtual asset trading platforms remain on the application list, with 11 companies withdrawing or returning their license applications.
The withdrawal of license applications has sparked concerns about Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency licensing system. Hong Kong Legislative Council member Wu Shuo has publicly criticized the system, claiming it undermines market confidence. These recent closures and withdrawals underscore the challenges crypto businesses face in navigating Hong Kong’s regulatory environment.
Source: coinfomania.com
The post Hong Kong Boosts Fintech Scene with Focus on DeFi and Metaverse appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
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Compliance Corner: Court Reverses Licence Ban On Lithuanian Fintech
Latest Compliance News: Regulatory Developments, Sanctions, Guidance, Permissions, and New Product and Service Offerings
ABC Projektai, CJEU, Lithuania
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that ABC Projektai, an online payments firm based in Lithuania, can regain its banking license, which was previously revoked by the Bank of Lithuania.
Previously known as Bruc Bond UAB, ABC Projektai had its banking license revoked in April 2020 due to allegations of holding customer funds longer than necessary for online transactions.
The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania (SACL) accepted the company’s appeal. The ruling recognized ABC Projektai’s compliance efforts and adherence to regulations, according to a statement from the company last week.
Starting 1 July 2024, the fintech firm will be able to operate under a full banking license once again.
This case highlights the rare instance where a regulatory decision to ban a financial entity is later overturned by a higher legal authority.
“The court, in agreement with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), found that the primary allegation against ABC Projektai—exceeding the limits of its payment institution license—was unfounded,” the firm stated.
“This complete vindication is a significant relief as it validates our operational practices and unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance,” a spokesperson for ABC Projektai commented.
The court deemed the initial penalty of permanent revocation excessively harsh and disproportionate under the given circumstances. It also confirmed that there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing by ABC Projektai.
ABC Projektai noted that it received support from other EU member states, including Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, as well as the European Commission.
Source: wealthbriefingasia.com
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Latest News
Thread Bank Responds to FDIC Enforcement Action
2024: The Summer of Consent Orders for Smaller Banks
The summer of 2024 is seeing a surge in consent orders for smaller banks. On June 28, Tennessee-based Thread Bancorp became the latest financial institution to come under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) scrutiny. This highlights the growing importance of managing operational, compliance, and strategic risks associated with third-party partnerships for banks and their FinTech collaborators.
Typically, the FDIC announces enforcement actions on the last Friday of each month. The recent order for Thread, a popular partner bank for numerous FinTechs, is notable for explicitly addressing the bank’s Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Loan-as-a-Service (LaaS) programs.
Dated May 21, the order mandates Thread Bank to implement several corrective measures without admitting or denying any unsafe or unsound banking practices. These measures include establishing a comprehensive third-party risk management program and enhancing due diligence, monitoring, and exit planning for Thread’s FinTech partners. This requirement underscores the regulator’s increasing focus on banks’ relationships with technology firms.
“Within 120 days of the effective date of this ORDER, the Bank’s BaaS and LaaS program policies and procedures must be thoroughly documented, covering, at a minimum, third-party partner and customer approval requirements, due diligence processes, growth and stress modeling, ongoing AML/CFT compliance monitoring, and steps to unwind third-party business lines, including FinTech partners,” the FDIC stated.
Thread’s FinTech and BaaS partners include Unit, which provides services for Relay, Toolbox, Sequin, Currence, Arpari, and several other platforms.
“When vetting potential fintech clients, both Thread and Unit prioritize maintaining a strong focus on compliance and oversight,” Unit wrote in a 2023 blog post.
“We remain steadfastly committed to collaborating with regulators at the state and federal levels because we believe the regulatory framework is necessary and can help create a strong banking system for consumers and small businesses,” Chris Black, CEO of Thread Bancorp, Inc. and Thread Bank, said in a statement to PYMNTS.
Black added, “We are dedicated to meeting all obligations and have made substantial investments to improve our policies, processes, procedures, and controls over the past three years in collaboration with the FDIC and the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI). We will continue to invest in our teams and services to ensure we meet the needs of, and provide strong protection for, our customers and partners as we move forward.”
FinTech Risk in Financial Supply Chains
Navigating the complex web of financial regulations is a daunting task, especially for FinTech startups with limited resources. Partnering with established banks allows FinTech companies to leverage their partners’ robust regulatory frameworks, reducing the compliance burden.
The BaaS model aimed to create a shared compliance environment where FinTechs could operate within regulatory bounds while focusing on innovation and growth. However, the reality has been more challenging.
A year ago, on June 6, 2023, the FDIC, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued final guidance on managing risks associated with third-party relationships.
Since then, the collapse of Synapse’s bankruptcy has tested the interconnected BaaS and FinTech landscape. Adding to the turmoil, Synapse’s primary banking partner, Evolve, suffered a significant cyberattack on June 26, putting its risk controls under scrutiny.
“The regulators are now awake,” Thredd CEO Jim McCarthy told PYMNTS. “Too many people focus on the ‘as a service’ part but neglect the banking part. If you fail at banking, the service piece doesn’t matter.”
The Middle Falls out of Middleware
A PYMNTS Intelligence report found that 65% of banks and credit unions have formed at least one FinTech partnership in the past three years, with 76% viewing these partnerships as essential to meeting customer expectations. Additionally, 95% of banks aim to use partnerships to enhance their digital product offerings.
Thread Bancorp, previously known as Civis, has a history of regulatory actions. Its recent FinTech partnerships have driven rapid growth, from less than $100 million to over $720 million between the end of 2020 and Q1 2024, according to FDIC call reports.
“With complex ecosystems, you have more partners than ever before,” Larson McNeil, co-head of marketplaces and digital ecosystems at J.P. Morgan Payments, told PYMNTS. This creates new challenges for managing partners and counterparty risk.
The Thread Bank case may indicate how regulators approach the intersection of traditional banking and financial technology. As the financial landscape evolves, the key to leveraging the BaaS model lies in fostering strong, transparent, and mutually beneficial relationships between banks and FinTech firms. By doing so, they can collectively drive the future of banking toward greater inclusivity, efficiency, and innovation.
Source: pymnts.com
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Latest News
Groundbreaking Partnership: Cross-Chain Tokens, CKB Eco Fund, and Meson Finance Launch ccBTC with 1:1 Bitcoin Reserves on CKB Main Network
HONG KONG, July 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cross-Chain Tokens (ccTokens) has partnered with the Nervos CKB Eco Fund to launch ccBTC on the CKB main network, enhancing Bitcoin liquidity within the CKB ecosystem. Backed by a 1:1 Bitcoin reserve, ccBTC is managed by Cactus Custody, a subsidiary of Matrixport. Cactus Custody is a licensed trust company in Hong Kong that adheres to strict anti-money laundering and regulatory standards while providing digital custody solutions.
Meson Finance, the official cross-chain bridge for the CKB Eco Fund, will enable seamless cross-chain circulation of ccBTC across major blockchains and BTC Layer2 networks. Meson Finance, a leading provider of cross-chain services, supports all major public chains and Layer2 networks and offers users access to assets like BTC, ETH, and stablecoins.
ccBTC leverages the advanced capabilities of Nervos CKB and RGB++ protocols to ensure secure BTC transfers within the Bitcoin ecosystem. This integration will empower decentralised applications (DApps) to utilise Bitcoin assets, including decentralised exchanges (DEX), lending platforms, algorithmic stablecoins, derivatives markets, the Lightning Network, the Nostr social protocol, and other large-scale use cases.
ccBTC is the first compliant and managed token issued on a UTXO platform outside the BTC main network. Users can publicly verify reserved addresses, balances, and transaction records in real time via the ccTokens website. To ensure transparency and reliability, the project employs a multi-party confirmation mechanism for minting, burning, and on-chain verification. The ccTokens governance model emphasises checks and balances through a multi-agency framework, role and rights segregation, and decentralisation to mitigate potential misconduct. Additionally, a blacklist mechanism supports ongoing governance and compliance.
This strategic collaboration aims to strengthen the CKB and RGB++ protocols and introduce securely managed Wrapped BTC assets to the broader Bitcoin ecosystem, revitalising dormant BTC assets.
About Nervos CKB
Nervos CKB is a pioneering BTC Layer 2 solution using the Cell model and PoW consensus mechanism to address blockchain scalability challenges. Its modular architecture separates transaction execution, consensus, and data availability.
About Meson Finance
Meson Finance is a decentralised cross-chain bridge leveraging Atomic Swap technology for seamless transfers of BTC, ETH, and stablecoins across over 50 public chains and Layer 2 networks. It offers efficient and cost-effective cross-chain services.
About Cactus Custody
Cactus Custody, a subsidiary of Matrixport, is a Hong Kong-based trust company dedicated to anti-money laundering and regulatory compliance. It provides efficient digital custody solutions. It leads in institutional-grade digital asset custody, supporting over 300 high-profile clients, including miners, exchanges, and funds.
About Cross-Chain Tokens (ccTokens)
Cross-Chain Tokens (ccTokens) are pegged tokens, each backed 1:1 by blockchain assets like BTC. These tokens enable seamless integration of various cryptocurrencies into the decentralised finance (DeFi) ecosystem. All ccTokens are fully supported and protected by qualified third-party custodians or validators.
Disclaimer
The content of this webpage is not investment advice and does not constitute an offer, solicitation to offer, or recommendation of any investment product. It is for general purposes only and does not consider your needs, investment objectives, or specific financial circumstances. Investment involves risk.
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