UBS Enters into Crypto Market for Wealthy Clients via Hong Kong

The Trio of Crypto ETFs
Hong Kong’s Regulatory Evolution
Silence from UBS and SFC
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In a groundbreaking move, UBS, the renowned Swiss bank, has opened up avenues for its affluent clients to partake in cryptocurrency trading through its Hong Kong-based platform. According to information from a reliable source reported by Bloomberg, the financial institution is now offering exposure to three cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), all of which have received the green light from Hong Kong’s regulatory body, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).

🚨BREAKING NEWS: Swiss banking giant UBS Group has launched #Crypto ETFs in Hong Kong. pic.twitter.com/cKuvyJGVdb
— Amonyx (@amonbuy) November 10, 2023

The Trio of Crypto ETFs

The trio of crypto ETFs made available through UBS includes Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active, CSOP Bitcoin Futures, and CSOP Ether Futures ETFs, collectively boasting an impressive $72 million in assets. This development comes on the heels of an announcement by HSBC, one of the largest banks globally, revealing plans to introduce a digital assets custody service specifically designed for institutional clients.

Hong Kong’s Regulatory Evolution

Hong Kong has recently witnessed a paradigm shift in its approach to cryptocurrency, signaling a move toward increased inclusivity. The jurisdiction is contemplating the permission for retail investors to participate in spot crypto ETFs and engage in the primary dealing of tokenization. This regulatory evolution aligns seamlessly with Hong Kong’s accelerated aspirations to position itself as a prominent virtual asset hub. The jurisdiction kickstarted this transformative journey in June by implementing a new regulatory framework, subsequently opening applications for crypto trading platform licenses. In a landmark move, the first set of licenses was granted in August, empowering exchanges to extend their services to retail customers.

Silence from UBS and SFC

Despite the magnitude of this development, both UBS and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) have not yet responded to a request for comment from CoinDesk regarding this groundbreaking initiative. Meanwhile, this move by UBS follows its active participation in a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot in collaboration with the Swiss National Bank (SNB). Additionally, earlier this year in March, UBS played a crucial role in stabilizing Credit Suisse after the latter’s collapse, coinciding with a significant surge in Bitcoin’s value above $28,000.

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