Here’s how Hong Kong is opening up to crypto

Regulation • June 3, 2023, 5:00AM EDT

UPDATED: June 3, 2023, 2:43AM EDT

Quick Take

In this episode, Jason Choi examines Hong Kong’s new Virtual Asset Service Provider licensing regime that went into effect on June 1.

Episode 52 of Season 5 of The Scoop was recorded with The Block's Frank Chaparro and Tangent Ventures Co-Founder Jason Choi.

Listen below, and subscribe to The Scoop on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please send feedback and revision requests to [email protected].

Jason Choi is the co-founder of Tangent Ventures and the host of Blockcrunch podcast.

In this episode, Choi shares why Hong Kong's new Virtual Asset Service Provider ('VASP') licensing regime represents an "unapologetically bullish" shift in tone from regulators.

Although the new laws effectively lift Hong Kong's prior ban on retail crypto trading, Choi still thinks it will take some time for Hong Kong to become a dominant hub for crypto:

"A lot of crypto startups are effectively unbanked, especially startups that have to deal with crypto assets directly in high frequency such as exchanges... Without more banks actively supporting crypto businesses, it's a very hard to really thrive for crypto businesses."

During this episode, Chaparro and Choi also discuss:

The Asian VC landscape
What's next for Web3 gaming
Crypto market liquidity

This episode is brought to you by our sponsors PayPal and CleanSpark.

About PayPal

Make your crypto move with PayPal. Get started today at PayPal.com/crypto

About CleanSpark

CleanSpark (NASDAQ: CLSK) is America’s Bitcoin Miner™. Visit cleanspark.com/theblock to learn more about the CleanSpark way.

About Authors

Davis Quinton is the Director of Podcasts at The Block and runs our flagship podcast called The Scoop, hosted by Frank Chaparro. Since joining The Block as an 'intern' in early 2022, he has worked closely with leaders across departments to translate The Block's written content into engaging multimedia formats. He holds a degree in Social Research & Public Policy from New York University in Abu Dhabi and is based in Sydney, Australia.

Frank Chaparro is Host of The Scoop podcast and Director of Special Projects. He also writes a biweekly newsletter. Chaparro started his career at Business Insider, where he specialized in the intersection of digital assets and Wall Street, market structure, and financial technology. Soon after joining Business Insider out of Fordham University, Chaparro was interviewing top finance and tech executives, including billionaire Mark Cuban, “Flash Boys” star Brad Katsuyama, Cboe Global Markets CEO Ed Tilly, and New York Stock Exchange President Tom Farley. In 2018, he become a sought after reporter in the crypto world, interviewing luminaries such as Tyler Winklevoss, the cofounder of Gemini, Jeremy Allaire, the CEO of Circle, and Fundstrat head Tom Lee. For inquiries or tips, email [email protected].