Joint Venture Formed by Standard Chartered and Strategic Partners for Applying Stablecoin Issuer License in Hong Kong
Anchorpoint Financial Limited, a joint venture between Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Animoca Brands, and HKT, has formally expressed its interest to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in applying for a stablecoin issuer license. This application was submitted on August 1, 2025, the same day that Hong Kong's Stablecoins Ordinance came into effect.
The establishment of Anchorpoint Financial Limited is considered another milestone in Standard Chartered (Hong Kong) Limited's journey in accelerating the development of digital assets in Hong Kong. Mary Huen, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered (Hong Kong) Limited, has expressed enthusiasm about the establishment of Anchorpoint Financial Limited.
The joint venture has been testing regulated stablecoins since July 2024 through the HKMA’s stablecoin issuer sandbox. This sandbox was designed to explore the potential of stablecoins in enhancing payment systems and integrating Web3 technologies with traditional finance.
The HKMA is expected to issue only a few stablecoin licenses in early 2026, reflecting a cautious regulatory approach. Anchorpoint's application marks one of the first formal steps under the new regulatory regime to bring stablecoins mainstream in Hong Kong’s digital asset ecosystem.
The license application aligns with Hong Kong’s strategy to position itself as an international financial center and digital assets hub. Anchorpoint Financial Limited plans to focus its business model on the issuance and advancement of licensed stablecoins, particularly a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin.
Mary Huen believes that stablecoins will play a significant role in building a sustainable digital asset ecosystem in Hong Kong. She envisions Anchorpoint Financial Limited introducing an innovative, efficient, and secure medium of exchange in Hong Kong. The joint venture aims to bridge Web3 and traditional finance with its stablecoin offerings.
[1] South China Morning Post. (2025, August 2). Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands and HKT form joint venture to apply for Hong Kong stablecoin license. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3163181/standard-chartered-animoca-brands-and-hkt-form-joint-venture
[2] Finextra. (2025, August 2). Anchorpoint Financial Limited to apply for Hong Kong stablecoin issuer license. Retrieved from https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/90061/anchorpoint-financial-limited-to-apply-for-hong-kong-stablecoin-issuer-license
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 2). Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, HKT form joint venture to apply for Hong Kong stablecoin license. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/standard-chartered-animoca-brands-hkt-form-joint-venture-apply-hong-kong-stablecoin-license-2025-08-02/
[4] CoinDesk. (2025, August 2). Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands and HKT Form Joint Venture to Apply for Hong Kong Stablecoin License. Retrieved from https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/08/02/standard-chartered-animoca-brands-and-hkt-form-joint-venture-to-apply-for-hong-kong-stablecoin-license/
[5] Bloomberg. (2025, August 2). Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, HKT Form Joint Venture to Apply for Hong Kong Stablecoin License. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-02/standard-chartered-animoca-brands-hkt-form-joint-venture-to-apply-for-hong-kong-stablecoin-license
On August 2, 2025, Anchorpoint Financial Limited, a joint venture between Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, Animoca Brands, and HKT, announced its application for a stablecoin issuer license on ffnews.com. This application marked a significant step towards integrating technology and finance, as the joint venture aims to bridge Web3 and traditional finance with its stablecoin offerings.
