Joint venture between Animoca and Anchorpoint aims to secure Hong Kong's stablecoin licensing

Hong Kong Welcomes the Arrival of Anchorpoint Financial Limited

Hong Kong has taken a significant step forward in its ambition to become a leading international financial center with the establishment of Anchorpoint Financial Limited. The joint venture, formed by Animoca Brands, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, and HKT, was announced in February of this year and has been participating in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)’s stablecoin issuer sandbox since July 2024.

On August 1, 2025, Anchorpoint formally indicated its interest with the HKMA to apply for a stablecoin issuer license. This move follows the implementation of the Stablecoins Ordinance on the same day, which marked the beginning of a new era for digital assets in Hong Kong.

The HKMA’s stablecoin issuer sandbox was initiated to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global digital assets hub. It aims to explore the potential role of stablecoins in developing financial markets and payments. The sandbox program includes major financial institutions, fintech firms, and blockchain companies based in Hong Kong, such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, and several local blockchain startups.

Evan Auyang, group president of Animoca Brands, believes that stablecoins represent one of the most compelling use cases within Web3 and are still at the early frontier of widespread adoption. He emphasizes that Anchorpoint is dedicated to the issuance and advancement of a licensed stablecoin.

Mary Huen, CEO of Standard Chartered’s Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia division, shares Auyang’s enthusiasm. She emphasizes the bank’s dedication to driving fintech innovation and charting a new chapter for Hong Kong’s digital asset market. Huen also states that Standard Chartered aims to launch a stablecoin that can be used securely by institutions and individuals across a wide number of use cases.

The formation of Anchorpoint is a result of a year-long collaboration between the three companies. The HKMA’s recent release of the application process for stablecoin licenses further encourages interested parties to contact them by August 31, 2025, and those ready to proceed advised to submit a full application by September 30, 2025.

The stablecoin regime in Hong Kong complements the e-CNY issued by the People’s Bank of China, offering a controlled sandbox for experimenting with HKD-backed or even CNY-backed stablecoins aimed at international markets. The establishment of Anchorpoint Financial Limited is a significant step towards reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial center.

JD.com subsidiary JINGDONG Coinlink Technology Hong Kong Limited and Hong Kong-based fintech RD InnoTech Limited were also participants in the HKMA’s stablecoin issuer sandbox, demonstrating the growing interest in digital assets in Hong Kong.

In conclusion, the establishment of Anchorpoint Financial Limited marks an exciting new chapter for Hong Kong’s digital asset market. With the support of the HKMA and the collaboration of major financial institutions, fintech firms, and blockchain companies, Hong Kong is well-positioned to become a leading hub for stablecoin innovation and adoption.