Joint venture between Animoca and Anchorpoint seeks to acquire Hong Kong Stablecoin Licensure

Hong Kong Welcomes New Stablecoin Contender: Anchorpoint

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has taken a significant step forward in its efforts to establish itself as a leading international financial center for stablecoins. The HKMA has recently announced the application process for stablecoin licenses, and one of the first companies to express interest is Anchorpoint Financial Limited.

Anchorpoint, a joint venture formed by Animoca Brands, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (SCBHK), and HKT, was established after a year-long collaboration that began in July 2024. The formation of Anchorpoint coincides with the implementation of the new Stablecoins Ordinance, which became effective on August 1, 2025.

The joint venture aligns with the HKMA's recently released application process for stablecoin licenses. On August 1, 2025, Anchorpoint formally indicated its interest with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to apply for a stablecoin issuer license.

The HKMA's stablecoin issuer sandbox, designed to explore how stablecoins can play a key role in developing financial markets and payments, has been instrumental in preparing companies like Anchorpoint for the application process. Anchorpoint participated in the sandbox since July 2024, alongside other companies such as HashKey Group, Diginex, Crypto.com, JD.com subsidiary JINGDONG Coinlink Technology Hong Kong Limited, and Hong Kong-based fintech RD InnoTech Limited.

Mary Huen, CEO of Standard Chartered's Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia division, emphasized the bank's dedication to driving fintech innovation and charting a new chapter for Hong Kong's digital asset market. Evan Auyang, group president of Animoca Brands, believes that stablecoins represent one of the most compelling use cases within Web3 and are at the early frontier of widespread adoption.

For Auyang, an HKMA-regulated stablecoin is important in reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a leading international financial center. He stated that the stablecoin regime in Hong Kong is distinct from the e-CNY issued by the People's Bank of China.

Anchorpoint is dedicated to the issuance and advancement of a licensed stablecoin. Mary Huen stated that Standard Chartered aims to launch a stablecoin that can be used securely by institutions and individuals across a wide number of use cases. The joint venture between Animoca Brands, SCBHK, and HKT is focused on the issuance and advancement of a licensed stablecoin.

Interested parties are encouraged to contact the HKMA by August 31, 2025, and those ready to proceed are advised to submit a full application by September 30, 2025. The HKMA's stablecoin issuer sandbox was created to strengthen Hong Kong's position as a global digital assets hub. With the announcement of Anchorpoint, Hong Kong continues to solidify its status as a hub for fintech innovation and digital assets.

Joint venture between Animoca and Anchorpoint seeks to acquire Hong Kong Stablecoin Licensure