hashkey-group-and-seba-bank-form-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-institutional-adoption-of-digital-assets-in-hong-kong-and-switzerland

HashKey Group and SEBA Bank Form Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Institutional Adoption of Digital Assets in Hong Kong and Switzerland

 

HashKey Digital Asset Group (“HashKey” or “The Group“) and SEBA Bank AG (“SEBA Bank“) have today announced a new strategic partnership that will see both financial services groups leverage their digital asset service offerings as well as custody and asset management products to accelerate the institutional adoption of digital assets in Hong Kong and in Switzerland.

The strategic partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), will see HashKey become SEBA Bank’s preferred digital asset trading and market development partner in Hong Kong, while SEBA Bank will be the banking partner of choice for HashKey in Switzerland. Together, HashKey and SEBA Bank will endeavour to bring to market reliable and differentiated solutions and avenues for institutional and professional investors who are seeking to take exposure in the digital asset ecosystem. The two groups are also committed to complying with and embracing the regulatory frameworks of their respective jurisdictions with the highest standards of complianceKnow-Your-Customer and Anti-Money Laundering policies and measures.

SEBA Bank is a leading crypto bank in Switzerland having a suite of fully regulated banking and investment services including trading, structured products, bank accounts, credit, custody and staking. By partnering with HashKey, SEBA Bank will strengthen its offering to its institutional clients and partners and solidify its position as a global crypto banking leader, complementing its existing licenses and branches in Switzerland and Abu Dhabi.

HashKey Group, through its subsidiary Hash Blockchain Limited (“HBL“), was recently granted approval from the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) of Hong Kong to operate a virtual asset trading platform, becoming only the second company in Hong Kong licensed to provide regulated automated trading services for professional investors in respect of virtual assets. In accordance with the regulatory framework set out by the SFC, HashKey’s virtual asset trading platform, named HashKey PRO, is built to ensure the highest level of client asset protection, in which client assets are segregated and held in custody by HashKey Custody Services Limited, a holder of a Trust or Company Service Provider licence in Hong Kong.

Franz Bergmueller, Group CEO of SEBA Bank, commented, “With a supportive regulatory framework, Hong Kong is a leading jurisdiction globally in the licensing provision of crypto products and services. It is important that the SEBA group becomes part of this ecosystem as a trusted, secure and transparent counterparty in this regulated crypto environment. We’re proud to partner with Hashkey to establish and strengthen our presence in this critical market. As a leading provider of digital asset financial services in the Asian markets, HashKey will play an important role in expanding our presence and network in the region.”

Michel Lee, Executive President at HashKey Group, said, “Since our inception, HashKey has always prioritised the importance of protecting our clients’ funds and assets under a regulatory-first approach. We are excited to form this strategic partnership with SEBA Bank, a pioneer in the global digital investment market and one of the most innovative financial institutions in the world, who also shares the same ethos and core principles with us on regulatory compliance. Merging HashKey’s ecosystem of digital asset services along with SEBA Bank’s cutting-edge digital banking and finance infrastructure will allow us to offer to our clients the most secure and seamless gateway into the new digital economy.”

hashkey-group-receives-full-licences-to-operate-virtual-asset-trading-platform-from-the-hong-kong-sfc

HashKey Group Receives Full Licences to Operate Virtual Asset Trading Platform from the Hong Kong SFC

 

Hash Blockchain Limited (“HBL“), a member of the HashKey Group (“HashKey” or the “Group“), a digital asset financial services group in Asia, has received approval from the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (“SFC“) to operate a virtual asset trading platform, under a Type 1 (dealing in securities) licence and a Type 7 (providing automated trading services (“ATS“)) licence for professional investors.

With the SFC licences, HashKey Group has now become the world’s first digital asset group with virtual asset licences from the Hong Kong SFC, the Financial Services Agency of Japan and an exemption to operate under the Payment Services Act from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

HashKey PRO is the name of HBL’s institutional-grade virtual asset trading platform. HashKey PRO will provide professional investors automated trading services for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether, as well as stablecoins, security tokens and other innovative assets.

Unlike other unregulated crypto trading platforms, HashKey PRO is designed to ensure there is a high level of client asset protection.  Client assets are segregated and held in custody by HashKey Custody Services Limited, which holds a Trust or Company Service Provider licence in Hong Kong.  

HBL’s licence issuances come after a statement on October 31, 2022 by the city’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, which outlined its vision and approach to develop Hong Kong into an international virtual assets hub.

Michel Lee, Executive President of HashKey Group, said “The recent policy statement is a testament to the Hong Kong government’s dedication and commitment to fortify the city’s status as a frontrunner and leader in blockchain and virtual asset innovation and regulation. We are delighted to have received the licences given the backdrop of this positive announcement.  This enables us to provide regulated and compliant virtual asset trading services as we continue to help build the financial, technological and service infrastructure to facilitate and contribute to the rapid growth and the long-term development of the ecosystem.”

Colin Zhong, CEO of HBL, said, “Our objective is to build a platform that is best in class in terms of technology, security and trading experience for our clients. One of the focuses of HashKey’s virtual asset exchange will be on the tokenisation of non-traditional assets, leveraging the robust ecosystem HashKey has developed over the years.”

“Apart from trading services, HashKey is also dedicated to supporting and providing a gateway for financial institutions and corporates to gain exposure to, and participate in, crypto projects through our comprehensive ecosystem across the digital asset landscape and Web3 infrastructure services.”

In 2022, the Hong Kong government and regulators have been setting out new guidelines and a licensing framework to regulate virtual asset trading activities in the interest of consumer and investor protection. A joint circular announcement was issued by the SFC and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on January 28 2022 stating that registered institutions and licensed corporations are required to partner only with SFC-licensed VATPs in order to provide virtual asset dealing services to their clients. At Hong Kong FinTech Week 2022, the SFC also released a Circular on Virtual Asset Futures Exchange Traded Funds, which states that the SFC will start accepting applications for the authorisation of such funds. The SFC has started reviewing the “professional investor only” requirement applicable to the investment of virtual asset products and are preparing a circular to set out a modified security token regime to treat tokenised assets in line with traditional securities assets on a “same business, same risk and same rules” approach.

tokyo-hash-completes-registration-as-crypto-asset-exchange-service-provider-in-japan

Tokyo Hash Completes Registration as Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider in Japan

 

Tokyo Hash Co.,Ltd, a leading crypto asset service provider in Japan, announced that it has completed its registration as a crypto asset exchange service provider based on the Payment Services Act on 18 June 2021. This is the first step for the company as it begins to expand its offerings in the market including its digital asset exchange services.

The news is also a milestone for Tokyo Hash’s parent company, HashKey Group, a leading end-to-end digital asset finance house serving professional and institutional investors. Headquartered in Hong Kong, HashKey has offices in SingaporeTokyo, and Shanghai. The core business lines of HashKey are a regulated digital asset, exchange, brokerage, custody, and a venture capital fund invested in blockchain companies around the world.

“This is a significant milestone for Tokyo Hash and HashKey Group,” said Michel Lee, Executive President of HashKey Group. “This expands the offering of our digital asset financial services in Japan. We look forward to introducing new services and products for digital asset investors in Japan.”

Since its establishment in 2018, Tokyo Hash has been working to ensure that its customers can use its services safely in compliance with regulatory requirements related to the crypto asset exchange business, including the Payment Services Act, and related laws, regulations, guidelines, and the orders issued by the Financial Services Agency and the Cabinet Office, as well as rules set forth by Japan Virtual and Crypto Asset Exchange Association.

Andy Dan, representative director of Tokyo Hash, said, “Harnessing HashKey Group’s expertise and partnerships, we will continue to explore blockchain-based finance technology in Japan and contribute to the development of the global crypto asset industry. We look forward to launching our service in the near term.”

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HashKey Group Winner at HKMA ‘Digitizing Trade Finance’ Tech Challenge

 

HashKey Group was announced yesterday as one of the winners of the “Digitizing Trade Finance Tech Challenge” hosted by Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). HashKey was awarded as one of the ten prize winners in a competition that attracted 103 applications from 24 cities in 16 countries. HashKey Group entered and won the competition with the support of sister company Wanxiang Blockchain.

Announced at Hong Kong Fintech Week 2020, HashKey’s solution will create a toolkit that improves the usability of blockchain-based open data standards for documents and data in cross-border trade finance. With the solution, HashKey Group and its sister company Wanxiang Blockchain will collaborate with local regulators, universities, government agencies, and SMEs in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

“This year we are witnessing a rapid acceleration in the growth of digital commerce,” said Michel Lee, HashKey Group Executive President. “As this trend continues, we are very excited by the potential of blockchain solutions to deliver the common data standards needed to bridge digital islands and allow for seamless digital trade.”

The project marks the second time the two companies received government recognition for its trade finance blockchain solutions. The project is an extension of current work with the Singapore government on blockchain-based digital trade facilitation.

“Through our work on open data standards, HashKey has developed a unique perspective on how to improve blockchain-based digital trade and make it more practical for more industry participants,” said Ben El-Baz, Head of Ecosystems at HashKey Group. “Together HashKey and Wanxiang Blockchain continue to collaborate on blockchain solutions for finance. With this project we are excited to expand the use of blockchain to solve challenges in trade finance.”

HashKey Group and Wanxiang Blockchain are building blockchain-based supply chain finance solutions. Earlier in 2020, HashKey also won a blockchain-based trade data project awarded by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore. The core of that project is integrating IMDA’s open, interoperability-focused TradeTrust blockchain document notarization framework into the team’s trade and supply chain finance platforms.