While XRP continues its climb, nods from worldwide regulators and initiatives to expand the acceptance, including a potential Grayscale XRP ETF and CME XRP -Futures, a shadow of doubt on its regulatory status in the Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong.
Ripple’s XRP striking because of his absence
On January 27, Hong’s Financial Regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) granted licenses to two local trade fairs, Panhertrade and YAX, to operate in the city – the first crypto -trading permits issued in 2025.
In particular, the SFC has only approved four cryptocurrencies for trade: Bitcoin, Ether, Avalanche and Chainlink. The absence of Ripple’s XRP from this list raises questions about the regulatory attitude of this specific cryptocurrency in the region. Despite its widespread global acceptance, XRP is currently not allowed for Hong Kong.
Strict regulations for fairs, including AML and CTF
License exchanges in the region are obliged to meet strict regulations, including anti-money laundering practices (AML) and terrorist financing laws (CTF). To date, 10 crypto fairs have been registered under these regulations and are permitted to operate virtual assets trading platforms in Hong Kong.
The SFC initially intended to approve 11 Crypto -trade platforms by the end of 2024, but was confronted with delays due to rigorous compliance checks. In December 2024, four virtual asset treatment platforms were granted licenses and supervisors continue to work closely with Exchange Executives to ensure that they meet financial standards.
The reason for excluding XRP from the approved list is unclear, but it can be related to the continuous legal issues of Ripple in different countries. The SFC has not given an official statement for this decision.
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Christina Comben
Christina is a web3 writer, editor and content manager with a passion for technology and starting important conversations. As an industry OG, she is not phased by market volatility and often becomes on Starbucks to BTFD.