- The license covers 13 digital currencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, USDC and Tether
- AMINA reports Hong Kong trading volume surged 233% in early 2025
- Hong Kong introduced new stablecoin rules and approved a Solana ETF this year
Hong Kong’s push to establish a well-regulated digital asset market is drawing increasing attention from global financial institutions. The latest example is Swiss crypto-bank AMINA Bank AG receiving approval to expand services in the city.
The bank’s license was upgraded to a Type 1 status by the Securities and Futures Commission, making it the first international bank authorized to offer regulated crypto trading and custody services to institutional clients in Hong Kong.
This move strengthens the city’s position as a regional digital asset hub and highlights the growing demand for bank-grade crypto services among professional traders and institutions.
AMINA plans to use the approval to provide institutional clients with a regulated route into digital currencies at a time when customers are seeking stronger safeguards and clearer rules.
Hong Kong’s regulatory standards typically limit the number of foreign institutions able to operate in this space, which creates market opportunities for firms with established banking frameworks.
AMINA’s entry aims to fill that gap by giving clients a regulated platform backed by traditional financial infrastructure.
AMINA expands into a fast-growing market
The license upgrade allows AMINA’s Hong Kong subsidiary to offer trading and custody across 13 digital assets.
These assets include Bitcoin, Ether, USDC, Tether and several prominent decentralized finance tokens commonly traded on global venues.
The authorization creates new opportunities for institutional clients seeking a regulated, single-source provider with access to a carefully curated list of major digital assets.
AMINA also reported rapidly increasing market activity.
The bank recorded a 233% increase in trading volume on Hong Kong crypto exchanges during the first half of 2025.
That surge indicates stronger participation from both institutional and retail users as Hong Kong’s regulatory landscape evolves.
AMINA expects the new approval to support a broader product suite.
Planned expansions include private fund management, structured crypto products, derivatives and tokenized real-world assets.
These additions would position AMINA as a multi-asset provider serving a diverse institutional client base across the digital asset space.
Local players face new global competition
Although AMINA is the first international bank to receive this particular upgrade, it is entering a highly competitive market.
Hong Kong already hosts regulated local firms such as Tiger Brokers and HashKey, both of which serve institutional and retail clients under earlier authorizations.
AMINA’s approval signals that the market is becoming more accessible to foreign institutions, which could shift competitive dynamics for both domestic and international service providers.
Hong Kong officials have repeatedly stated that attracting global firms is central to the city’s digital asset strategy.
AMINA’s arrival may prompt additional overseas banks and brokerages to consider similar applications as they evaluate opportunities in Asia’s regulated crypto market.
Policy changes shape Hong Kong’s crypto framework
AMINA’s approval comes amid rapid policy developments in the city.
Hong Kong launched new stablecoin rules in August, creating a formal licensing pathway for issuers.
Following that move, major regional banks such as HSBC and ICBC indicated they are reviewing license applications as part of broader digital asset plans.
The city also approved the first regulated Solana exchange-traded fund in late October.
That authorization put Hong Kong ahead of the U.S. in approving a regulated Solana ETF and expanded the list of crypto-linked investment options available to investors.
In August, Hong Kong tightened rules around self-custody of digital assets.
The changes focus on improving cybersecurity protections and reducing risks associated with individual key management.
Authorities presented these measures as security enhancements rather than steps to restrict user access.
The combination of new rules and rising institutional interest has created an environment that increasingly attracts global firms.
AMINA’s regulatory progress reinforces Hong Kong’s strategy to balance robust compliance with market expansion, supporting the city’s goal of growing a regulated, internationally connected digital asset ecosystem.