Hong Kong Brokerages Secure Crypto Trading Licenses as Market Confidence Soars

• Hong Kong approved Guotai Junan International and Victory Securities to offer crypto trading services.
• Both companies saw their stock prices surge over 20% after the announcement.
• The regulatory approval allows traditional brokerages to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum for clients.

Hong Kong’s financial landscape experienced a significant shift in June 2025 as traditional brokerages received regulatory approval to offer cryptocurrency trading services. The Securities and Futures Commission granted these licenses amid growing institutional interest in digital assets across Asia’s financial hub.

Guotai Junan International emerged as the pioneer in this regulatory milestone. The mainland China-backed brokerage secured full-scope virtual asset trading and advisory services authorization. This development marks the first time a Chinese state-backed firm has obtained such comprehensive crypto permissions in Hong Kong.

The regulatory approval allows licensed brokerages to offer direct cryptocurrency trading to their clients. Services include Bitcoin and Ethereum trading alongside stablecoin transactions. This expansion represents a major integration of digital assets into traditional financial services.

Victory Securities also received similar authorization during this period. The firm joins a select group of Hong Kong brokerages now permitted to provide regulated crypto services to retail clients. Both companies can now offer cryptocurrency trading and advisory services under strict regulatory oversight.

Market Response Demonstrates Strong Investor Confidence

Stock prices for approved brokerages experienced dramatic increases following the licensing announcements. Guotai Junan International shares surged by over 300% during the week of the announcement. The stock reached its best weekly performance on record.

Victory Securities witnessed comparable market enthusiasm. Share prices initially jumped by more than 20% before stabilizing at elevated levels. The sustained price increases indicate genuine investor confidence in the crypto trading business model.

Trading volumes for both companies increased substantially during the announcement period. The positive market response suggests strong institutional appetite for regulated crypto exposure.