Two of China’s major technology players, Ant Group and 0 , have put their ambitions to issue stablecoins in Hong Kong on hold, following clear signals from Beijing that such private-sector currency issuance may be off-limits for 1 the summer, both companies had shown interest in joining Hong Kong’s new pilot programme for fiat-backed 2 had announced plans to apply for a licence to issue stablecoins in the territory once its licensing regime came into effect on Aug.1 . JD. com, too, was reported to be lobbying for an offshore yuan-oriented stablecoin via Hong 3 Kong’s Stablecoin Dreams Face Mainland Resistance However, the mood has 4 Financial Times reported Sunday that officials at the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) and the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) instructed the firms to pause or abandon moves to issue or back stablecoins from Hong 5 to FT, Alibaba’s Ant Group and JD com have paused their plans to issue stablecoins in Hong Kong after receiving instructions from Chinese regulators, including the PBOC and CAC, to halt the 6 Kong passed a Stablecoin Bill in May establishing a licensing… — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) October 19, 2025 Their main worry is that if large tech firms or brokerages begin issuing tokens that function like currency, it could weaken the central bank’s 7 person told the FT that regulators are focused on ensuring that the right to issue money remains solely with the state, not private 8 Kong’s stablecoin licensing regime had created a new 9 territory’s de facto central bank, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), rolled out the framework after legislation was passed in May, opening a channel for token-issuers backed by fiat 10 Shift From Enthusiasm To Restraint On Hong Kong Stablecoins Some officials in mainland China initially saw the programme as a chance to expand the renminbi’s reach beyond national 11 believed that yuan-pegged stablecoins issued through Hong Kong could help counter the dominance of US dollar-backed tokens worldwide.
However, that optimism faded by late 12 a closed-door forum, former PBoC governor Zhou Xiaochuan urged a more cautious 13 warned that stablecoins could easily become vehicles for speculation or even 14 also questioned whether they truly added value to everyday retail 15 then, Beijing’s tone had clearly 16 began prioritising financial stability and state control over rapid innovation in the digital currency 17 Of War Emerges Between Hong Kong’s Openness And Beijing’s Control Regulators made it clear that private companies issuing currency-like tokens must yield to China’s priority of preserving monetary control. Innovation, in their view, cannot come at the cost of 18 Ant and JD.
com, the timing could not be more 19 June, Ant announced plans to apply for a stablecoin 20 by mid-October, both firms had quietly stepped back, following Beijing’s guidance to 21 move captures a growing tension between Hong Kong’s push to build a global digital asset hub and Beijing’s preference for 22 Hong Kong continues to accept applications, authorities have already cautioned that only a few licences will be approved at first, and only after rigorous scrutiny.
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