Hong Kong is plotting a move to unlock a multi-billion dollar capital pool for digital assets and related infrastructure, potentially marking a watershed moment for institutional crypto adoption in Asia.
The Hong Kong Insurance Authority (IA) is proposing new rules that would allow the city’s 158 authorized insurers to channel funds into assets, including cryptocurrencies.
While the proposal signals an institutional thaw toward crypto, the regulator is still keeping its guard up with a conservative risk framework. The proposal requires insurers to keep aside a dollar in reserve for every dollar invested in crypto, representing a 100% “risk charge” on direct crypto asset holdings. This is a heavy capital requirement mandated as buffer agains digital assets’ renowned volatility.
Stablecoins, however, would attract risk charges based on the fiat currency they are pegged to, the report said. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is expected to issue first stablecoin licenses in early 2026.
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