Hong Kong’s tech news snapshot for November 2023 captured items including the city’s digital currency pilot, the ‘Digital HKD‘; Swiss bank UBS’ approval for 3 crypto ETFs; Web3 firm Animoca Brands’ incredible growth moves, globally; and more.
For our other editions, see Asia’s tech news, daily, delivered via LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter/X, and our Indo-Pacific tech newsletters for a weekly email on Asia’s tech scene.
Also available is our November collection of technology-specific news items, covering semiconductors, critical minerals, space launch & satellite technologies.
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- Hong Kong: Police failed in bid to force YouTube to remove documentary about pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai, owner of Apple Daily, a Google transparency report shows
- Hong Kong Monetary Authority ‘Digital Hong Kong Dollar’ pilot program with HSBC, Hang Seng Bank and Visa completes testing of tokenized deposits using digital currency
- Hong Kong: Zodia Custody expands HK operations following receipt of trust license from Monetary Authority, with custodial services for cryptocurrencies and digital assets
- Hong Kong regulator grants Switzerland’s UBS bank approval to offer HK clients 3 cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds, Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active, CSOP Bitcoin Futures and CSOP Ether Futures ETFs
“Swiss bank UBS’ wealthy clients can now take exposure to three crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through the lender’s Hong Kong platform, according to a Bloomberg report citing a person familiar with the matter.”
“The three crypto ETFs – Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active, CSOP Bitcoin Futures and CSOP Ether Futures ETFs – are all authorized by Hong Kong’s securities regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Together, the three products boast assets worth around $72 million.”
“Significantly, the news comes a day after HSBC, one of the world’s largest banks, said it plans to start a digital assets custody service for institutional clients.”
- Hong Kong: WOW Summit 2024 has been set for March 26-27, looking at all things Web3 and associated
- Hong Kong: Sleek raised $5M seed funding with blockchain-based social network, and features including physical Sleek Card using NFC for networking
- Animoca Brands, Amazon Web Services and Polygon Labs unveil MoonRealm Express Accelerator, aiming to boost development of Web3 products and solutions via Animoca Brands Mocaverse
- UAE gaming startup, Farcana, backed by Hong Kong’s Animoca Brands with games offering tournaments backed by permanent Bitcoin prize pools
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