- CMB International opened 24/7 licensed trading for BTC, ETH and USDT in Hong Kong.
- The service targets qualified investors under SFC oversight after July licensing.
CMB International Securities, the Hong Kong brokerage arm of China Merchants Bank, has launched regulated cryptocurrency trading in the city with round-the-clock access to Bitcoin, Ether and Tether via its mobile app. The rollout follows regulatory approval obtained in July under Hong Kong’s virtual asset regime.
CMB International opens 24/7 BTC, ETH and USDT trading to qualified investors
The firm said eligible clients can now execute spot trades in BTC, ETH and USDT on a continuous basis, aligning trading hours for digital assets with the always-on nature of the market. The offer is being introduced to qualified investors, consistent with disclosures at the time of licensing.
🇭🇰 LATEST: CMB International, a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest banks, has launched regulated crypto trading in Hong Kong. pic.twitter.com/lXwO2n9meT
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) August 18, 2025
CMB International secured a virtual asset licence from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission in mid-July, becoming the first Chinese bank-owned securities firm to gain such approval.
The licence allows the broker to integrate crypto dealing into its existing securities platform and to develop related services for professional clients.
Today’s launch makes CMB International the first subsidiary of a major mainland lender to offer compliant crypto trading in Hong Kong, according to industry reports and company statements.
The app-based service includes standard onboarding, know-your-customer checks and transaction monitoring requirements aligned with SFC expectations.
Hong Kong sets stricter custody expectations as brokerages add crypto access
The debut comes as Hong Kong tightens rules on safeguarding client assets at licensed virtual asset platforms, with the SFC publishing enhanced custody standards last week. The regulator’s push aims to ensure segregation and robust security controls amid the sector’s expansion.
Authorities have also progressed a legislative framework for stablecoin issuers, adding another pillar to the city’s digital-asset policy architecture. Market guidance indicates a phased licensing approach under the new law, which took effect this month.
For investors, access through a broker affiliated with a major banking group removes operational frictions between traditional securities and crypto holdings. CMB International has said it intends to develop portfolio tools that place virtual assets alongside equities, bonds and funds within a single account infrastructure.
While trading of cryptocurrencies remains restricted on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong continues to serve as a controlled venue for institutions experimenting with digital assets.
The participation of a large mainland-linked brokerage reflects that the regulatory channel is increasingly being used by traditional finance firms to offer crypto exposure outside the domestic market.
The timetable for wider retail access through intermediaries will depend on further SFC guidance and the pace at which licensed firms adopt the updated custody standards.
In the interim, CMB International’s launch gives qualified clients a regulated route to execute and settle spot transactions in the market’s most liquid tokens under Hong Kong law.
At the time of press, Bitcoin is trading at $115,033.00, reflecting a 24‑hour decline of exactly $3,323.00, which corresponds to a –2.808% drop from its previous closing price.
