Ethereum

DOOR

Solana

CRYPTO

KONG

<ul>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">CMB International launches Hong Kong’s first bank-backed crypto trading service, supporting BTC, ETH, and USDT for qualified professional investors under SFC regulation. &nbsp;</li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond crypto trading, CMBI introduces CMBMINT, the world’s first cross-border tokenized public money market fund, deployed initially on Solana with multi-chain expansion plans. &nbsp;</li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Hong Kong strengthens its role as Asia’s digital asset hub, bridging Chinese finance with global crypto markets while ensuring strict compliance and investor protection.</li>
</ul>
CMB International becomes the first Chinese bank-backed firm licensed in Hong Kong to offer BTC, ETH, and USDT trading plus tokenized RWA funds like CMBMINT.
<h2 id="introduction">INTRODUCTION</h2>
&nbsp;
In August 2025, CMB International (CMBI), the investment banking arm of China Merchants Bank, officially launched virtual asset trading services in Hong Kong. This marks a historic milestone: CMBI has become the first Chinese state-backed securities firm to secure approval from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to provide regulated access to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT).
&nbsp;
The move highlights Hong Kong’s accelerating role as a digital asset hub in Asia, bridging traditional finance with the emerging world of cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets. At the same time, it reflects how established Chinese financial institutions are cautiously testing the waters of crypto under a regulated framework.
&nbsp;
<h2 id="the-launch-of-crypto-trading-services">THE LAUNCH OF CRYPTO TRADING SERVICES</h2>
&nbsp;
On August 18, 2025, CMB International rolled out its new crypto trading platform through its mobile application. The service operates 24/7 and allows eligible professional investors to buy and sell BTC, ETH, and USDT seamlessly alongside their traditional portfolios.
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Unlike retail-focused exchanges, the service is strictly limited to “qualified professional investors” who must undergo a rigorous Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) process. Investors are required to open both a cash account and a dedicated virtual asset account before gaining access.
&nbsp;
This structured and compliant approach reflects Hong Kong’s regulatory stance: while mainland China continues to prohibit crypto trading, Hong Kong provides a legal, licensed path for institutional and professional investors to participate in the sector.
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<h2 id="compliance-and-regulatory-framework">COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK</h2>
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The foundation of CMB International’s crypto services is its regulatory approval from the Hong Kong SFC. In July 2025, CMBI became the first Chinese bank-backed securities firm to obtain the necessary license for virtual asset trading.
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Hong Kong’s rules require licensed platforms to adopt strict investor protection measures. CMBI’s crypto unit therefore integrates cold wallet storage, independent audits, and real-time risk monitoring. This ensures customer assets remain secure, while minimizing counterparty and custodial risks.
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In addition, CMBI partners with leading industry players such as OKX Planet, which provides liquidity and technical infrastructure for the trading engine. This collaboration underscores the importance of bridging traditional banking institutions with established crypto-native firms.
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<h2 id="digital-assets-available-btc-eth-and-usdt">DIGITAL ASSETS AVAILABLE: BTC, ETH, AND USDT</h2>
&nbsp;
The initial offering is streamlined to the three most liquid and globally recognized digital assets:
&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Bitcoin (BTC): The world’s first and most dominant cryptocurrency, viewed by many as digital gold. </li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Ethereum (ETH): The backbone of decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenization projects. </li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Tether (USDT): The most widely used stablecoin, pegged to the U.S. dollar, often serving as the settlement layer for crypto transactions. </li>
</ul>
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This selection highlights a strategy of caution and credibility. By starting with assets that already have regulatory recognition in multiple jurisdictions, CMB International minimizes risk while offering professional investors the essential entry points into the digital asset market.
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<h2 id="expansion-into-tokenized-rwa-products">EXPANSION INTO TOKENIZED RWA PRODUCTS</h2>
&nbsp;
CMB International is not limiting its ambitions to cryptocurrency trading alone. In July 2025, the firm made headlines by launching CMBMINT, the world’s first cross-border tokenized public fund recognized by regulators in both Hong Kong and Singapore.
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CMBMINT represents a U.S. dollar money market fund that has been tokenized on the Solana blockchain. The product provides professional investors with digital fund shares backed by traditional assets, while leveraging blockchain for transparency, faster settlement, and wider accessibility.
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Plans are already in motion to extend deployment to multiple chains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Plume. This multi-chain strategy is designed to increase liquidity and ensure interoperability across the growing Real World Asset (RWA) ecosystem.
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The launch of CMBMINT positions CMB International as a pioneer among Chinese financial institutions in the tokenization sector, and it signals how traditional banking and digital assets are beginning to merge.
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<h2 id="why-hong-kong-is-becoming-a-digital-asset-hub">WHY HONG KONG IS BECOMING A DIGITAL ASSET HUB</h2>
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Hong Kong’s regulatory environment plays a central role in making CMBI’s initiative possible. Unlike mainland China, where cryptocurrency trading remains banned, Hong Kong has embraced a “regulated openness” model.
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The SFC has been granting licenses to exchanges and asset managers that meet strict compliance requirements, while simultaneously protecting retail investors by restricting participation to qualified professionals. This balanced approach allows innovation to flourish while preventing excessive risk exposure.
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With the support of major financial players like CMBI, Hong Kong is carving out a niche as Asia’s gateway for institutional crypto adoption. The city’s ambition is clear: to serve as the meeting point between global digital asset innovation and traditional finance capital from mainland China and beyond.
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<h2 id="risks-and-opportunities-for-investors">RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTORS</h2>
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The launch of CMBI’s crypto and tokenized asset services presents both opportunities and risks for investors:
&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Opportunities: 
 <ul>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Direct exposure to BTC and ETH under a fully compliant framework. </li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Participation in tokenized RWA products with cross-border recognition. </li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">The ability to diversify portfolios with blockchain-enabled assets.</li>
 </ul></li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Risks: 
 <ul>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">High volatility of cryptocurrencies. </li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Regulatory uncertainty beyond Hong Kong’s borders. </li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Limited liquidity for newer tokenized products compared to traditional funds. </li>
 </ul></li>
</ul>
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Investors must carefully evaluate these factors, understanding that while regulation provides security, the underlying assets still carry market and technology-related risks.
&nbsp;
<h2 id="strategic-significance-for-chinese-finance">STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE FOR CHINESE FINANCE</h2>
&nbsp;
CMB International’s move is symbolically significant. It demonstrates that Chinese financial institutions are open to engaging with the digital asset industry—albeit through the Hong Kong channel rather than mainland markets.
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This strategy provides multiple benefits:
&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Testing digital finance innovation under global regulatory standards. </li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Positioning Hong Kong as a testing ground for broader financial reforms. </li>
 <li style="font-weight: 400;">Building infrastructure for future integration of tokenized assets into mainstream banking. </li>
</ul>
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The decision to tokenize a U.S. dollar money market fund also highlights the growing importance of RWA tokenization as a bridge between traditional assets and blockchain technology.
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<h2 id="conclusion">CONCLUSION</h2>
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The launch of CMB International’s virtual asset trading platform and the introduction of its tokenized fund CMBMINT are groundbreaking developments for Hong Kong and the broader Chinese financial ecosystem.
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By offering regulated access to BTC, ETH, and USDT, while simultaneously pioneering tokenized RWA products, CMBI is setting a new benchmark for traditional financial institutions entering the blockchain space.
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As regulatory clarity continues to evolve, Hong Kong is solidifying its status as a regional hub for digital finance, while institutions like CMB International are shaping the blueprint for how legacy banking and digital assets can coexist.
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For investors, the opportunity is clear but must be approached with caution: crypto and tokenized assets represent the future of finance, but they come with risks that demand careful due diligence.
〈<a href="https://www.coinrank.io/crypto/cmb-international-opens-the-door-to-crypto-assets-in-hong-kong/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CMB INTERNATIONAL OPENS THE DOOR TO CRYPTO ASSETS IN HONG KONG</a>〉這篇文章最早發佈於《<a href="https://www.coinrank.io" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CoinRank</a>》。

CMB INTERNATIONAL OPENS THE DOOR TO CRYPTO ASSETS IN HONG KONG

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