SFC Roadmap Heralds a New Chapter in Virtual Asset Regulation Create

Cover Story
SFC Roadmap Heralds a New Chapter in Virtual Asset Regulation

As the intersection between traditional finance (TradFi) and the virtual asset (VA) space continues to widen, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong has recently launched a new phase in VA regulation. The “ASPIRe” roadmap, an abbreviation of Access, Safeguards, Products, Infrastructure and Relationships, includes 12 initiatives designed for streamlined market access, adaptive compliance and product frameworks, and infrastructure upgrades to bridge TradFi reliability with blockchain efficiency.

Thought Leaders
Achieving High-Quality Development: Balancing Innovation, Efficiency and Sustainability

In 2025, Agricultural Bank of China Limited (ABC) Hong Kong Branch will celebrate its 30th anniversary. In this interview, Ms XIAO Bin, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Branch of ABC (hereafter known also as “the Bank”), reflects on the bank’s development over the past three decades and shares insights into the Bank’s strategies across key areas, including green finance, wealth management, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) initiative, digital transformation, and talent development.

China World
Commitment to Reform and Open Up Reaffirmed at High Profile Meetings

Economic, social, and fiscal topics discussed at the annual plenary meetings of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC) provided insights into the priorities for the year ahead for policymakers, investors, and businesses globally, including the banking and finance community.

Fintech
"Fintech 2025" Strategy, a Major Driver of Growth, Innovation and Sustainability 

When the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) unveiled the “Fintech 2025” strategy on 8 June 2021, the initiative marked a significant milestone in the effort to drive Fintech development in Hong Kong. Under the umbrella of the “Fintech 2025” framework, five strategic areas were identified as being of critical importance to underpinning Hong Kong’s Fintech ecosystem. The five areas include all banks go Fintech; future-proofing Hong Kong for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs); creating the next-generation data infrastructure; expanding the Fintech-savvy workforce; and nurturing the ecosystem with funding and policies.

Special Article
Cybersecurity Solutions Day 2025 Explored the Evolving World of Threats and Defence Strategies

With banks regularly topping the lists of sectors most targeted by cyber-criminals, HKIB’s Cybersecurity Solutions Day 2025, themed “Tools, Tactics, and Tech: Building Stronger Cyber Resilience for Tomorrow”, provided an invaluable opportunity for participants to gain deep insights into current threat trends, how the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is creating both new opportunities and cybersecurity challenges, and the innovative defence strategies needed to stay ahead of emerging attack vectors.

GRC Corner
First Cybersecurity Law in Hong Kong: A Focus on Critical Infrastructures

Against a backdrop of escalating risks of cyberattacks across the globe, on 19 March 2025, the Hong Kong Legislative Council enacted the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Bill (the Bill), which was gazetted as the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance (Cap. 653) (the Ordinance) on 28 March 2025. While the Ordinance does not apply to all businesses/organisations, it is the first piece of cybersecurity legislation in Hong Kong, marking a significant step towards enhancing cybersecurity standards in relation to essential services and critical societal or economic activities in Hong Kong.