Hong Kong Moves to Ease Capital Rules for Banks Holding Licensed Crypto

Hong Kong’s de facto central bank is proposing a softer capital regime for banks holding certain digital assets, marking a significant step toward aligning with global norms while bolstering the city’s ambitions as a digital finance hub.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Monday issued a consultation paper on a new supervisory policy manual module, CRP-1, which sets out how crypto assets should be classified under the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s global capital standards set to take effect in early 2026.