The Securities and Futures Commission has launched a consultation to further restrict unregulated entities from using names that could mislead the public into believing they are regulated. The proposals would expand the current list of restricted titles under the Securities and Futures Ordinance and introduce similar restrictions under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, reflecting developments such as the growth of virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs). The expanded restrictions would also capture commonly used terms similar to “exchange” (for example, “trading platform”), terms referencing regulated products and platforms (for example, “virtual assets” and “clearing facilities”), and titles that imply an association with established exchanges, VATPs or similar entities. Comments are invited by 11 August 2025.
Hong Kong Securities & Futures Commission 2025-06-12
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission launches consultation to expand restricted titles and curb misleading exchange and virtual asset platform names
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission is consulting on proposals to restrict unregulated entities from using misleading names, expanding the list of restricted titles under the Securities and Futures Ordinance and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance. The proposals target terms like "exchange," "trading platform," and references to regulated products and platforms, reflecting the growth of virtual asset trading.