ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) held its first virtual asset consultation group (the group) meeting today with licensed virtual asset trading platforms.The group is chaired by Dr. Yip Chi-hang, Executive Director of the SFC's Intermediaries Division, and includes all licensed virtual asset trading platforms, represented by their senior management.The group will provide valuable contributions to the SFC in formulating regulatory policies to further promote the development of a sustainable and resilient virtual asset ecosystem. By collaborating with members, the group will identify policy priorities to pave the way for market and regulatory development based on investor protection.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, Hong Kong has committed to accelerating the licensing process for cryptocurrency trading platforms. Joseph Chan, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, stated in the Legislative Council that the Securities and Futures Commission will promote a "fast-track licensing process" and establish a "consultative group," which is expected to start working with licensed trading platforms early next year.Joseph Chan indicated that the Financial Stability Committee plans to submit the relevant legislative bill to the Legislative Council "within this month." According to the consultation document, the proposal will require all FRS issuers to obtain a license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The regulatory agency will propose a plan next year to issue licenses to cryptocurrency custodians.

ChainCatcher news, the Bank of England and the UK Treasury are publicly recruiting scholars for their newly established Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Academic Advisory Group, aiming to gather experts in monetary policy, finance, competition economics, industrial organization, behavioral science, law, innovation theory, marketing, and business to jointly understand the practical challenges of designing, implementing, and operating CBDC.The UK has not yet decided to introduce CBDC, stating that it will study the technical and policy requirements of a digital pound over the next 2-3 years. The CBDC Academic Advisory Group does not bear any decision-making responsibilities and aims to facilitate interdisciplinary discussions on a range of topics related to retail CBDC.

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced on Monday the list of committee members, naming former White House official Carole House as the new chair and Ari Redboard from blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs as the vice chair of its technology advisory committee. House helped craft President Joe Biden's cryptocurrency executive order and is now the resident executive at Terranet Ventures. Ari Redboard previously served at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.Other representatives from the crypto industry on the committee include Circle's Vice President Corey Then, Espresso Systems Chief Strategy Officer Jill Gunter, Fireblocks CEO Michael Shaulov, Ava Labs CEO Emin Gün Sirer, Paradigm Policy Director Justin Slaughter, Trail of Bits CEO Dan Guido, and Lightspark Chief Strategy Officer Christian Catalini (formerly in charge of the Diem project). (CoinDesk)