Hong Kong Bank Embraces Stablecoin Issuers

Hong Kong-based virtual bank ZA Bank has revealed its plans to offer banking services specifically designed for stablecoin issuers, in a move that aims to boost the adoption of Web3 technology. The bank will provide secure storage for fiat reserves, which stablecoin issuers can use to back their digital assets. Stablecoin issuers will have access to various banking services, including fund transfers, payroll management, and deposit options. ZA Bank’s alternate chief executive, Devon Sin, expressed the bank’s strong support for the Web3 community and its commitment to addressing the challenges faced by stablecoin issuers, fostering growth and stability in the Web3 economy.

Stablecoins, in order to maintain their value, need to have an equivalent amount of fiat currency stored securely as reserves, so that holders can redeem their stablecoins for the underlying fiat currency whenever needed. Managing these reserves has proven difficult for stablecoin issuers, limiting their wider adoption and creating a significant demand within the Web3 community.

ZA Bank has been actively engaging with Hong Kong’s emerging Web3 sector. In 2023, it recorded a transfer volume of over $1 billion from clients involved in the Web3 space. The bank announced its intention to offer retail virtual asset trading in the region shortly after the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) announced its acceptance of retail virtual asset trading platform licenses. ZA Bank has reported that it currently serves over 80% of the banking needs of the Virtual Asset Trading Platform (VATP) in Hong Kong and has onboarded more than 100 Web3 companies to promote local adoption.

In a consultation paper from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Hong Kong government outlined its plan to require stablecoin issuers to obtain licenses. These licenses would necessitate the full backing of all circulating stablecoins with reserves that are “at least equal to the par value.”

By offering dedicated banking services for stablecoin issuers, ZA Bank aims to support the growth and stability of the Web3 economy, while addressing the specific challenges faced by stablecoin issuers in securing and managing their reserves. This move is part of the bank’s broader efforts to actively participate in and contribute to Hong Kong’s evolving Web3 landscape.