Company well-positioned as territory’s only insured, audited digital asset platform
Hong Kong – 7 November 2019 – OSL, Asia’s leading digital asset platform and member of BC Group (stock code: 863 HK), today submitted the first application for a digital asset trading license under the Securities & Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong’s newly announced digital asset licensing regime.
“We congratulate the SFC on announcing its digital asset licensing regime and are proud to be the first applicant,” said Wayne Trench, CEO of OSL. “As a global financial centre and one of Asia’s premiere fintech hubs, Hong Kong is at the forefront of digital asset technology, security and regulatory development.”
“The SFC announcement is critical to the development of the local and global digital asset market, and will drive industry-wide momentum, leading to additional digital asset regulatory frameworks in the region,” added Trench.
The licensing framework, announced by SFC CEO Ashley Alder on 6 November 2017 during Hong Kong Fintech Week, draws from existing SFC standards for automated trading service providers and securities brokers. It outlines a regulatory regime for digital assets in Hong Kong that includes requirements on insurance, custody, know-your-customer, anti-money laundering, market manipulation and other digital asset-specific requirements.
“Under the new rules, only digital asset trading platforms that adhere to the highest standards will be able to ‘opt in’ and qualify for a license,” said BC Group CEO Hugh Madden. “We are uniquely positioned for licensing approval because we have institutional-grade compliance, risk and internal controls to promote investor confidence – including comprehensive insurance, a ‘Big Four’ audit, and rigorous KYC-AML controls – which were built into our business at inception.”
Commenting on the new regulations, Gary Tiu, Head of Regulatory Affairs at BC Group, said,
“The new regulatory framework is significant as it is a world first in terms of standards for digital asset trading platforms. This is a ground-breaking initiative that will create a holistic regulated ecosystem for professional and institutional traders to invest in digital assets with more confidence than ever before.”
About OSL Hong Kong
As a subsidiary of the publicly listed OSL Group (HKEX: 863.HK), OSL Digital Securities is Hong Kong’s first and most established SFC-licensed and insured digital asset platform. Operating since 2018, the platform provides institutional-grade digital asset services to corporations, financial institutions, professional and retail investors.
OSL Hong Kong delivers services across five core domains: OTC brokerage, Omnibus broker solutions, custody, wealth management, and retail services. The OTC brokerage services provide 24/7 high-liquidity crypto trading with fiat on/off-ramp services. Custody solutions feature client-asset segregated wallet management backed by US$1 billion insurance coverage. The wealth management suite offers crypto investments to traditional investors, including tokenised treasuries, RWAs, structured crypto products, and quant investment strategies. Retail services bring institution-grade security and crypto access to professional and retail investors.
As a pioneer in bridging traditional finance and the digital asset economy, OSL Group adheres to its core concept: Open, Secure, and Licensed, empowering the next generation of global financial infrastructure. In addition to Hong Kong, OSL Group expands operations under full regulatory compliance in Japan, Australia, Europe and beyond.
For more information, visit osl.com.
Press enquiries