Establishment of Stablecoin Venture in Hong Kong by Animoca in Collaboration with Standard Chartered and HKT
In a significant move for the cryptocurrency industry, Anchorpoint Financial—a joint venture of Animoca Brands, Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong, and HKT—formally applied for a stablecoin issuer license with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on August 1, 2025. This application was made on the very day that Hong Kong’s new Stablecoins Ordinance came into effect.
This makes Anchorpoint the first entity in Hong Kong to initiate the regulated stablecoin licensing process under the new legal framework. Prior to the application, since July 2024, Anchorpoint’s partners had participated in the HKMA’s stablecoin issuer sandbox, testing regulated stablecoins to enhance payment systems and integrate Web3 technologies with traditional finance.
The license application is part of a strategy to build a regulated stablecoin ecosystem that bridges crypto and traditional finance, supports transactional stability, and promotes Hong Kong’s position as a digital assets hub and international financial center.
As of now, no public announcements indicate that the license has been approved yet. The HKMA is expected to issue only a limited number of stablecoin licenses early next year (2026), advising a tempered market expectation during this early regulatory phase. Therefore, Anchorpoint Financial’s application remains under review as part of this initial licensing process.
Meanwhile, in the world of cryptocurrency journalism, Sophia Panel—a well-known figure with over 10 years of experience—has been reporting on token listings, stablecoins, exchanges, and market trends at Coincu.com. Sophia is passionate about educating underserved communities about blockchain potential and has a strong presence on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and SoundCloud.
The anticipated introduction of HKD-backed and multi-fiat stablecoins through Anchorpoint could impact regional financial infrastructures and potentially shift local liquidity patterns. This could stimulate broader institutional adoption across Asia, according to Coincu's research team.
Yat Siu from Animoca Brands emphasized the venture’s role in establishing an open Web3 infrastructure. Sophia Panel, too, is collaborative and goal-oriented, with a focus on user engagement and education. She has been invited as a speaker at Indian Web3 Summits and global blockchain forums.
Initial capitalization for Anchorpoint reportedly exceeds HKD 250 million (~USD 32 million). The venture aims to drive compliant stablecoin adoption in Hong Kong and foster connectivity between finance and telecommunications sectors.
In other news, Ethereum (ETH) has seen a surge in price over the past 90 days, with ETH trading at $3,894.46 as of August 8, 2025, reflecting a 61.53% increase.
[1] South China Morning Post, "Hong Kong's new stablecoin regulations take effect", August 1, 2025. [2] Coincu.com, "Anchorpoint Financial applies for stablecoin issuer license in Hong Kong", August 1, 2025. [3] Bloomberg, "Hong Kong Stablecoin Venture Anchorpoint Applies for Licence", August 1, 2025. [4] Reuters, "Hong Kong's Anchorpoint Financial seeks stablecoin issuer license", August 1, 2025. [5] Financial Times, "Anchorpoint Financial applies for Hong Kong stablecoin license", August 1, 2025.
- Anchorpoint Financial, a joint venture, applied for a stablecoin issuer license with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), becoming the first entity to initiate the regulated stablecoin licensing process under the new legal framework.
- The application was made on the day that Hong Kong’s new Stablecoins Ordinance came into effect, with the HKMA expected to issue only a limited number of stablecoin licenses early next year (2026).
- The license, if approved, could impact regional financial infrastructures and potentially shift local liquidity patterns, supporting the venture’s goal of driving compliant stablecoin adoption in Hong Kong.
- In a significant move for the cryptocurrency industry, this application bridges the gap between crypto and traditional finance, promoting Hong Kong’s position as a digital assets hub and international financial center.
- Coincu.com’s research team predicts that the anticipated introduction of HKD-backed and multi-fiat stablecoins through Anchorpoint could stimulate broader institutional adoption across Asia.
- Meanwhile, in the world of cryptocurrency journalism, Sophia Panel, a well-known figure with over 10 years of experience, is passionate about educating underserved communities about blockchain potential and advocating for user engagement and education.
