Hong Kong Issues Fraud Warning After New Stablecoin Regulations Take Effect

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) warned citizens about fraud risk after the new stablecoin regulatory framework came into effect. The city officials have concerns about the heightened market volatility and the speculative activity surrounding companies that are tied to stablecoin initiatives.

Ye Zhiheng, executive director of the SFC’s intermediaries division, said the introduction of the Stablecoin Ordinance earlier this month had coincided with a rise in fraudulent schemes. He urged investors to remain cautious and avoid making decisions based on hype, social media chatter, or short-term price swings.

The concern came after the market was unstable on August 1, when a number of Hong Kong-listed stablecoin companies said they had lost double-digit amounts of money right after the new rule went into effect. Analysts saw the drop as a healthy correction and said that the licensing criteria for issuers were stricter than they had thought they would be. However, They pointed out that some companies’ share prices still surged merely after announcing plans to seek a stablecoin license, fueling speculative behavior.

In a joint statement issued last week, the SFC and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) highlighted “abrupt market movements linked to the stablecoin concept.” The regulators noted that stock rallies and declines often followed little more than corporate announcements, media reports, or social media speculation regarding stablecoin licensing.

“These movements appear to follow corporate announcements, news reports, social media posts or speculations regarding plans to apply for stablecoin issuer license, engage in related activities or explore the feasibility of such initiatives in Hong Kong,” the statement read.

The SFC pledged to closely monitor trading activity and promised strict enforcement against manipulative or deceptive practices that could undermine market integrity.

The new Stablecoin Ordinance came into effect on August 1 and introduced a six-month transition period for compliance for all stablecoin issuers. It makes it a criminal offense to offer or promote unlicensed fiat-pegged stablecoins to retail investors. The legislation also established a public registry of licensed issuers, marking a major step in Hong Kong’s attempt to regulate its digital asset industry.

Alongside the stablecoin rules, the SFC recently issued new crypto custody guidelines. These measures impose stricter security standards, including a controversial ban on using smart contracts in cold wallet implementations, potentially forcing operational changes at several major crypto firms.

With Hong Kong positioning itself as a digital asset hub, regulators are signaling that investor protection and market stability will remain top priorities in the months ahead.