ChainCatcher news, according to Hong Kong media East Network, the CEO of the virtual asset trading platform Binance, Richard Teng, met with law enforcement in Hong Kong to discuss advancing bilateral cooperation to combat financial and cyber crimes related to virtual assets.The topics discussed included expanding and strengthening the cooperation between the public and private sectors in network defense within the blockchain ecosystem, as well as continuously enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in the face of increasingly complex threats and sophisticated technological criminals.

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by the Hong Kong Economic Journal, the CEO of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Ashley Alder, stated at the Consensus forum that virtual assets can currently enter the second phase. In this pro-growth strategy, first, the local legislation on virtual asset activities will be completed; second, products and services will be expanded; third, operational processes will be optimized, including regulations on hot wallets and cold wallets, as well as adjustments to custody and insurance requirements. The content to be reviewed in terms of compliance and how to optimize it will truly maximize operational processes.

According to ChainCatcher news, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has released a new ASPIRe roadmap, proposing five pillars: Access, Safeguards, Products, Infrastructure, and Relationships, covering 12 key measures aimed at making Hong Kong a global virtual asset hub.The roadmap will establish a new regulatory framework for over-the-counter trading and custody services for virtual assets, optimize operational requirements for trading platforms, and promote the expansion of virtual asset products and services. The Executive Director of the Intermediaries Division of the Securities and Futures Commission, Yip Chi-hang, stated that the roadmap will facilitate global liquidity access while ensuring investor protection, achieve a security-oriented compliance framework, and encourage traditional financial institutions to upgrade their infrastructure using blockchain technology.

ChainCatcher news, according to NOW Finance, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission will announce a roadmap for the development of virtual assets this afternoon. Ye Zhiheng, Executive Director of the Intermediaries Division of the SFC, stated at the Consensus forum that formulating the roadmap is not difficult; the focus is on how to implement it. He revealed that there is not just one path, but rather includes 12 initiatives.Ye Zhiheng pointed out that the roadmap intentionally does not set a timetable, as it is necessary for the industry and stakeholders to rethink how quickly these 12 initiatives can be achieved. However, he mentioned that it will not take a long time, as the market changes rapidly, and as a regulatory body, they need to keep up with the changes and find readily available fruits to show results to the market.The virtual asset advisory group held a meeting earlier, and Ye Zhiheng, who serves as the group chairman, stated that the group includes the management of all licensed virtual asset trading platforms in Hong Kong, who provide advice to the SFC, especially regarding whether these initiatives represent the correct path. The next focus is on how quickly these visions can be achieved.

ChainCatcher news, at the Consensus Hong Kong 2025 conference, the Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong, Ashley Alder, stated: "This afternoon, Hong Kong will release a virtual asset roadmap. The SFC is focusing on custody, OTC, and stablecoin trading. We have made significant progress in crypto custody, trading, and issuance, and are facilitating more institutions to enter this field. Blockchain can enhance settlement efficiency, and Hong Kong has different regulatory measures for the crypto sector, which need to be integrated through more flexible forms to promote a sound regulatory framework while achieving responsible innovation."

ChainCatcher news, according to Yahoo Finance, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, stated that he is continuously reviewing and improving Hong Kong's regulatory framework to cultivate a more complete virtual asset ecosystem, including the development of a comprehensive framework that encompasses virtual asset exchanges, stablecoin issuers, custodians, and over-the-counter trading activities.Christopher Hui mentioned that Hong Kong is building a bridge between traditional finance and the rapidly developing digital economy. The regulatory framework has established a solid foundation for this transformative trend. For example, the Securities and Futures Commission has announced regulatory expectations for intermediaries engaging in tokenized securities-related activities, providing clarity for market participants and fostering a trustworthy innovation environment. He emphasized that the trends of tokenization and the transformation brought by artificial intelligence can only reach their full potential within a reliable and adaptable regulatory system, which will protect the market with fairness, consistency, and the highest standards.

According to ChainCatcher news, as reported by Hong Kong Radio, the Executive Director of the Intermediaries Division of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Yip Chi-hang, is expected to announce the virtual asset development roadmap within this month. The roadmap will not only outline the development principles but will also mention the areas the SFC hopes to research in the short term and the aspects that platform participants wish to optimize.In addition, the focus of the virtual asset roadmap is not on the content itself, but rather on the SFC's courage to demonstrate principles to the market and the stance for the market to consider.

ChainCatcher news, according to East Net reports, Hong Kong-listed company Kingkey Financial International announced that its indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary Kingkey Securities plans to submit an application to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission to seek approval to provide virtual asset trading services under a comprehensive account arrangement, as well as to introduce virtual asset consulting services.The company's board stated that the introduction of consulting services related to such assets will greatly expand the group's service scope. If the potential application is submitted and approved for the launch of virtual asset trading and consulting services aimed at retail clients, it is expected to broaden the customer base and diversify its service offerings.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has issued a warning regarding the risks associated with Meme coins, advising investors not to invest in speculative and unregulated assets.The regulatory body stated that these assets are speculative, volatile, and susceptible to market manipulation, while urging investors to exercise caution when presented with unrealistic return promises, emphasizing that such promises often indicate fraudulent activities. Meme coins issued from Dubai must comply with the rules enforced by VARA.

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 a report by Hong Kong media Wen Wei Po, the cybersecurity report shows that there are currently 2,650 counterfeit DeepSeek websites and phishing sites, and this number is still rapidly increasing. Users need to be highly vigilant, as the main uses of these counterfeit domains are phishing fraud, domain squatting, and traffic diversion. Phishing fraud is primarily carried out by stealing user login credentials, misleading users through similar domain names and interfaces, and tricking users into purchasing virtual assets.Statistics show that large-scale registration activities of counterfeit DeepSeek domains began on January 26, 2025, peaking on January 28. Although the growth rate has since decreased, the number continues to rise.In addition, 60% of these counterfeit domains resolve to IP addresses located in the United States. Scammers have also launched various so-called "DeepSeek-enhanced" high-end features of air coins (virtual currencies with no substantive value), and there are even websites claiming to sell original shares of DeepSeek, which could lead to significant financial losses for users.

According to ChainCatcher news, HashKey Capital has been approved by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to provide virtual asset (VA) discretionary account management services for professional investors under its Type 9 license. This authorization allows HashKey Capital to manage a range of customizable investment products, including spot virtual asset investments and derivatives, and to formulate and execute strategies that align with the investment objectives of professional investors within the scope of pre-approved exchanges.

ChainCatcher news, according to Reuters, India is re-evaluating its stance on cryptocurrencies due to changes in how other countries are treating this virtual asset. A senior Indian government official told Reuters on Sunday that this review may further delay the release of a discussion paper on cryptocurrencies originally scheduled for September 2024.India's Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth stated in an interview, "More than one or two jurisdictions have changed their positions on the use, acceptance, and significance of cryptocurrencies. In light of this trend, we are re-evaluating this discussion paper." Seth also noted that because these assets "are not bound by borders," India's stance cannot be unilateral.He did not specifically mention the United States, but last week, U.S. President Trump ordered the establishment of a cryptocurrency task force to propose new digital asset regulations and explore the creation of a national cryptocurrency reserve, fulfilling his commitment to overhaul U.S. cryptocurrency policy. In recent years, despite India's strict regulatory stance and high trading taxes on cryptocurrencies, Indians have continued to invest heavily in them.

ChainCatcher news, according to Hong Kong media East Net, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission submitted a new financial budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year to the Legislative Council's Financial Affairs Committee, updating the deficit forecast for the current fiscal year (2024/25) to HKD 148 million, while the deficit for the fiscal year 2025/26 is expected to reach HKD 238 million. At the same time, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission proposed the addition of 15 new positions, of which 8 are aimed at strengthening personnel support for the virtual asset regulatory system, market surveillance, and enforcement investigations, and 7 are to enhance information technology and institutional support.

ChainCatcher news, according to Aastocks, the President of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Yu Weiwen, stated at the Legislative Council's Financial Affairs Committee meeting that the investment strategy of the foreign exchange fund will continue to focus on liquidity, stability, long-term returns, and diversified income. Although metals and mainland assets have already been allocated, he made it clear that there is no intention to allocate virtual assets.In light of the market volatility brought about by current geopolitical issues, Yu Weiwen emphasized the importance of safety. Regarding the impact of the strengthening US dollar, he pointed out that the appreciation of the Hong Kong dollar following the US dollar will help alleviate local inflationary pressures, but may affect consumption and the tourism industry. HKMA Vice President Yuen Kwok-hang added that the total amount of loans in the Hong Kong banking system has declined for three consecutive years, mainly due to demand-side issues.

ChainCatcher News, the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has released the first thematic newsletter of 2025 titled "Consolidating Hong Kong's Status as an International Financial Center."The article states: The Legislative Council's Bills Committee is conducting a detailed review of the "Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024" and the "Stablecoin Bill" to introduce mechanisms that facilitate the migration of overseas registered companies to Hong Kong, as well as to introduce a licensing system for fiat-backed stablecoin issuers. Regarding the development of financial technology, the Legislative Council's Home Affairs Committee has established a subcommittee to examine the application and development of Web3 and virtual asset technologies in Hong Kong and to propose recommendations for implementing relevant regulations and policies.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Economic Daily, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan plans to propose a draft law for virtual asset service providers (VASP) in June 2025, allowing banks to issue stablecoins for the first time.FSC Chairman Peng Chin-long stated that stablecoins will serve as a bridge between fiat currency and virtual currency, providing investors with a trading entry point. All stablecoins issued in Taiwan must be approved by the FSC, including requirements for issuance qualifications and reserves. This policy will be coordinated with the central bank to clarify the distinction from CBDC and assess the application of stablecoins in the real economy.

ChainCatcher news, Hong Kong stock market data shows that by the close, the trading volume of 6 Hong Kong virtual asset ETFs today was approximately 21.06 million HKD.Among them:Huaxia Bitcoin ETF (3042.HK) had a trading volume of 15.57 million HKD;Huaxia Ethereum ETF (3046.HK) had a trading volume of 1.47 million HKD;Harvest Bitcoin ETF (3439.HK) had a trading volume of 2.2 million HKD;Harvest Ethereum ETF (3179.HK) had a trading volume of 343,000 HKD;Bosera HashKey Bitcoin ETF (3008.HK) had a trading volume of 1.41 million HKD;Bosera HashKey Ethereum ETF (3009.HK) had a trading volume of 73,000 HKD.