Hong Kong2026-09-28 11:22:29Hong Kong to accept autonomous driving commercialization applications this yearHong Kong Transport Commissioner Angela Lee said at the third meeting of the Working Group on Promoting the Application of Autonomous Vehicles that the Transport Department will begin accepting applications within this year from autonomous driving operators seeking commercial operations for individual projects. Lee also said the department will actively advance the autonomous transport system for the "Sky Corridor," which will connect the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge with Airport City. The meeting also heard a joint progress update from MTR Corporation and the Airport Authority on their "Air-Rail Intermodal" autonomous driving project, which is expected to begin service in the second quarter of next year. The Transport Department said more autonomous driving use cases will be introduced in stages to speed up unmanned and large-scale autonomous driving development in Hong Kong, according to a Hong Kong government press release.170
Hong Kong SFC2026-09-28 11:09:48Hong Kong SFC and AFRC widen regulatory cooperation to cover virtual asset service providers and fundsHong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC) signed a new memorandum of understanding on Sept. 28, expanding the scope of their regulatory cooperation beyond the financial reporting of listed entities and related audits. The new arrangement now also covers the financial and compliance reporting of licensed corporations, SFC-licensed virtual asset service providers, SFC-authorized funds, and registered open-ended fund companies, as well as audits and assurance work carried out by the relevant auditors. Under the memorandum, the two regulators will put in place a broader cooperation framework that includes information sharing, case referrals, mutual assistance, and coordinated inspections and investigations. The SFC said the move is intended to broaden regulatory coverage, strengthen the quality of financial reporting and market integrity, and reinforce global investor confidence in Hong Kong’s financial regulatory system.180
Hong Kong2026-09-28 10:20:04Hong Kong expands financial reporting oversight to crypto companiesHong Kong regulators have expanded the scope of financial reporting oversight to include cryptocurrency companies, according to a Techub News brief citing Crypto Briefing. The move is intended to strengthen market confidence while also raising compliance costs for firms operating in the crypto sector. The change points to a tighter regulatory framework for digital asset businesses in Hong Kong and signals another step in bringing the industry closer to the standards applied in traditional finance. While the brief did not provide additional implementation details, it framed the decision as part of a broader push to align crypto market practices with established financial reporting expectations.220
Hong Kong2026-09-28 09:58:31Hong Kong expands financial reporting oversight to licensed crypto firmsHong Kong has widened regulatory coordination over financial reporting, audits and compliance to include licensed crypto firms. The Securities and Futures Commission and the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council said Monday they had signed a new memorandum of understanding covering SFC-licensed virtual asset service providers, licensed corporations, registered open-ended fund companies and authorized funds. The arrangement also covers related audit and assurance work and sets out a framework for information sharing, case referrals, mutual assistance, and coordinated inspections and investigations. It replaces an earlier 2021 agreement signed between the SFC and the former Financial Reporting Council, which became the AFRC in 2022. SFC Chair Kelvin Wong said the broader arrangement would give Hong Kong’s financial sector "more comprehensive oversight" across a wider range of entities and activities. The move comes as Hong Kong keeps building out its digital asset rulebook. In January, regulators laid out plans for new rules on crypto advisory services, and the SFC has also introduced frameworks covering virtual asset margin financing and perpetual contracts.230
Hong Kong2026-09-28 10:30:59Hong Kong watchdogs expand financial reporting and audit oversight to licensed virtual asset service providersHong Kong’s Accounting and Financial Reporting Council said on Sept. 28 that it has signed a new memorandum of understanding with the Securities and Futures Commission, widening the scope of regulatory cooperation between the two bodies. The arrangement now goes beyond oversight of financial reporting by listed entities and related audit work. It also covers the financial and compliance reporting of licensed corporations, SFC-licensed virtual asset service providers, SFC-authorized funds, and registered open-ended fund companies. In addition, the expanded framework applies to the related audit and assurance work carried out by their auditors. The announcement points to a broader coordination mechanism between the AFRC and the SFC across reporting and assurance matters involving more parts of Hong Kong’s regulated financial market, including the city’s licensed virtual asset service provider segment.210
Hong Kong2026-09-28 03:26:44Hong Kong accounting regulator and SFC sign new MOU covering virtual asset entitiesHong Kong’s Accounting and Financial Reporting Council said it has signed a new memorandum of understanding with the Securities and Futures Commission, widening the scope of regulatory cooperation beyond oversight of listed entities’ financial reporting and related audits. The expanded arrangement now covers the financial and compliance reporting of licensed corporations, SFC-licensed virtual asset service providers, SFC-authorized funds, and registered open-ended fund companies. It also applies to the related audit and assurance work carried out by their auditors. The announcement sets out the categories included in the new cooperation framework but does not disclose additional terms in the brief statement.250
South Korea2026-09-27 11:22:28South Korea calls for won stablecoin liquidity support as Kazakhstan crypto trading hits $10.58 billionTechub News, citing a weekly roundup posted by @WuBlockchain, said one of the key crypto developments in Asia this week was South Korea’s call for liquidity support measures for won-denominated stablecoins. The roundup also said Kazakhstan’s cryptocurrency trading volume reached $10.58 billion. Other items listed in the summary included Hana Bank issuing $100 million in blockchain-based digital bonds, Hong Kong exploring 24/7 on-chain settlement, China reiterating restrictions on cryptocurrencies, and U.S. prosecutors investigating Binance over Iran sanctions issues. The update was presented as part of a broader list of Asia’s top 10 crypto stories for the week.230
RWA2026-09-25 09:41:10RWA Weekly: SEC exemption-backed tokenized stock venues may outline plans in Q4, Binance buys $100 million of Circle stockReal-world asset activity picked up during the Sept. 18 to Sept. 25 review period, with on-chain RWA market capitalization rising to $40.9 billion and the number of asset holders climbing to 4.75 million, according to data cited from RWA.xyz. Stablecoins also expanded, with total market capitalization reaching $306.21 billion, monthly transfer volume at $7.23 trillion, and monthly active addresses at 58.89 million. The figures showed transaction activity and user growth outpacing supply growth. On the policy side, several jurisdictions moved at once. In the U.S., the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force said the first tokenized stock trading platforms using the agency’s new five-year innovation exemption could begin disclosing operating plans as early as next quarter. The Federal Reserve separately proposed two stablecoin rulemakings under the GENIUS Act and opened a 60-day public comment period. In Europe, the European System of Central Banks called for changes to MiCA reserve rules and urged regulators to extend the ban on stablecoin yield from direct interest to indirect returns through lending and staking. Hong Kong, meanwhile, said RMB trading for Hong Kong stocks through Stock Connect should be in place before July 1 next year, while CMU OmniClear aims to support CBDC settlement before year-end. Corporate and project developments were also broad-based. Binance disclosed a $100 million investment in Circle and a new five-year USDC promotion agreement. NYSE and Blockchain.com are exploring tokenized U.S. equities, ARK Invest and Securitize are tokenizing the ARK Venture Fund, Ondo launched a stock-backed tokenization route with Alpaca, and Optimism, KB Securities and Securitize signed an MOU for institutional tokenized products in South Korea.250
