Hong Kong Regulators Move Forward with Greenlighting Spot Bitcoin ETFs

Wednesday, 10/04/2024 | 11:09 GMT by Tareq Sikder

Harvest Global Investments and VSFG, with Value Partners, applied for a spot ETF to the SFC.

Regulatory approval doesn't guarantee instant trading; more steps may be necessary.

Hong Kong regulators are set to greenlight the inaugural batch of applications for spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the upcoming week, potentially paving the way for these financial products to hit the market as early as April. Sources familiar with the matter disclosed this information to Reuters, highlighting a significant development in the financial landscape.

Asian Markets Eye Bitcoin ETF Approvals

If approved, these ETFs would mark a milestone for the Asian market, with Hong Kong and Australia emerging as frontrunners in offering such investment instruments. While Singapore and the United Arab Emirates have yet to signal immediate intentions in this regard, Hong Kong's regulatory authorities appear to be accelerating the approval process, according to statements cited in the Reuters report.

Among the entities seeking approval, Harvest Global Investments, an asset management firm from China, and asset manager VSFG, in partnership with Value Partners, have submitted applications to the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for a spot ETF, as reported by CoinDesk. The report also mentioned that four entities, including the Hong Kong units of China Asset Management, Harvest Fund Management, and Bosera Asset Management, have applied to launch spot Bitcoin ETFs.

No Guarantee for Immediate Market Availability

The regulatory approval does not necessarily guarantee immediate market availability, as additional steps may be required before these ETFs are ready for trading. Investors and stakeholders alike will be closely monitoring developments in this space, anticipating the impact of spot Bitcoin ETFs on the broader financial landscape.

The latest Investment Trends' "2023 Hong Kong Online Investing Report" has revealed a decrease in active online investors from 900,000 to 840,000, as reported by Finance Magnates. Despite this decline, there's growing optimism among investors for local shares, a shift to defensive assets, and increased interest in international markets.

Though Hong Kong's online investor numbers have dropped, remaining investors exhibit resilience. The report suggests a forecasted increase of 0.4% in the HSI over the next year, signalling renewed market confidence.