The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) would like to remind investors that they should only trade virtual assets on virtual asset trading platforms licensed by the SFC. If investors are unsure about the regulatory status of the virtual asset trading platform they are currently using to trade, they can check the SFC's list of virtual asset trading platforms.
In particular, investors should check whether the virtual asset trading platform is on the "List of Licensed Virtual Asset Trading Platforms" and the "List of Virtual Asset Trading Platform Applicants". Virtual asset trading platforms on the "List of Licensed Virtual Asset Trading Platforms" have been officially licensed by the SFC. Virtual asset trading platforms on the "List of Virtual Asset Trading Platform Applicants" include virtual asset trading platforms operating in Hong Kong and have submitted license applications to the SFC on or before February 2024, 2.
投资者应不时及无论如何必须在2024年3月1日，查核虚拟资产交易平台的监管状态，因为依据证监会有关虚拟资产交易平台的监管制度的过渡安排，在香港营运的虚拟资产交易平台如没有在2024年2月29日或之前向证监会提交牌照申请，将必须在2024年5月31日或之前结束其在香港的业务（注1及2）。
If the virtual asset trading platforms used by investors for trading operate in Hong Kong and are not on the “List of Licensed Virtual Asset Trading Platforms” or the “List of Applicants for Virtual Asset Trading Platforms” (Note 3), they should make preparations in advance before May 2024, 5, such as closing their accounts on these virtual asset trading platforms or transferring to virtual asset trading platforms licensed by the SFC to trade virtual assets.
However, the SFC reminds the public that applications submitted by applicants on the “List of Virtual Asset Trading Platform Applicants” are still being processed and it is unknown whether they will be approved. Therefore, there are risks in trading on these platforms (Note 3).
Last but not least, the SFC strongly urges investors to only trade virtual assets on virtual asset trading platforms licensed by the SFC, as trading on unlicensed platforms may leave them unprotected.
Finish
Remarks:
根据《打击洗钱及恐怖分子资金筹集条例》（第615章）（《打击洗钱条例》）附表3G，过渡安排有效期至2024年5月31日为止，其目的是让于2023年6月1日之前一直在香港经营《打击洗钱条例》第53ZR条及附表3B所界定的经营虚拟资产交易所业务（虚拟资产服务）的虚拟资产交易平台，有足够的时间申请牌照，或就有序地结束其在香港的业务运作做准备。这些虚拟资产交易平台必须在2024年2月29日或之前向证监会提交牌照申请，以便在2024年6月1日或之后继续在香港营运。
根据《打击洗钱条例》，在2023年6月1日之前并无在香港经营虚拟资产交易所业务的虚拟资产交易平台，如在2023年6月1日或之后无牌而在香港经营其业务或向香港投资者积极推广其服务，即属刑事罪行。如虚拟资产交易平台没有在2024年2月29日或之前向证监会提交牌照申请，但却在2024年6月1日或之后继续在香港营运，亦属刑事罪行。
The public should note that the virtual asset trading platforms on the "List of Virtual Asset Trading Platform Applicants" are not licensed or regulated by the SFC and may not comply with the SFC's requirements. These virtual asset trading platforms may not be licensed in the end because the SFC may return or reject their applications. In such cases, these virtual asset trading platforms may have to end their business in Hong Kong and their names may be placed on the "List of Terminated Virtual Asset Trading Platforms". Therefore, investors should also check the "List of Terminated Virtual Asset Trading Platforms" from time to time.