Catenaa, Wednesday, August 20, 2025- CMB International Securities, a subsidiary of China Merchants Bank, has launched virtual asset trading in Hong Kong, becoming the first Chinese bank-affiliated securities firm to offer compliant crypto services.
The platform supports round-the-clock trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether through a mobile app with Know Your Customer verification.
The service operates under Type 1 and Type 7 licenses approved by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission in July 2025, complying with the Securities and Futures Ordinance and the new Stablecoin Ordinance effective August 1.
Security measures include cold storage wallets, real-time risk monitoring, and third-party audits to protect investors.
The platform leverages OKX Planet for high-performance trading engines and liquidity management.
Its integrated account model allows institutional investors to hold virtual assets alongside traditional securities, supporting diversified asset allocation.
Plans include issuing tokenized money market funds on public blockchains like Solana under the CMBMINT initiative.
The launch aligns with Hong Kong’s ASPIRe strategy to build a secure digital asset ecosystem.
CMB Wing Lung Bank previously introduced Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October 2024, featuring real-time market tracking and educational materials for retail investors.
Institutional demand continues to rise.
Hong Kong-listed crypto ventures raised over $1.5 billion in July 2025, while mainland Chinese banks pursue licenses for similar offerings.
Regulatory guidance restricts mainland stablecoin research, highlighting a divergence between Hong Kong’s supportive approach and Beijing’s strict crypto controls.
