It's decided! Hong Kong will fully implement the Basel crypto regulations in 2026, affecting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more.

Heavy news from the financial sector! According to Deep Tide TechFlow, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has strongly announced that starting from January 1, 2026, the regulatory standards for crypto assets set by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision will be officially implemented. This decision is like a deep-water bomb, instantly triggering the entire cryptocurrency market!

The new regulations cover a wide range, including crypto market 'top stars' like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as popular assets like RWA and stablecoins, all of which are brought under regulatory oversight. This means that Hong Kong's crypto asset regulation is officially aligning with international standards, moving towards a new development stage.

Industry insiders keenly point out that Ethereum, as a representative of permissionless blockchain technology, has many mainstream stablecoins and RWAs issued based on its public chain. The implementation of the new regulations is likely to change the attitude of the Hong Kong banking system towards these assets. After all, the regulations set clear requirements for banks regarding capital and risk exposure related to holding crypto assets, which will inevitably make banks more cautious in their asset allocation.

However, there is also good news. The Basel Committee and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority have made it clear that for client crypto assets held in custody by banks, there is no requirement to set credit or market risk capital requirements, provided that client crypto assets must be strictly isolated from the bank's own assets. This regulation alleviates the pressure on bank custody services to some extent and adds a layer of 'insurance lock' for the safety of client assets.

As 2026 approaches, Hong Kong's banking institutions have all entered a 'preparation' state, intensively adjusting asset allocation and risk management strategies to ensure smooth compliance. For cryptocurrency investors and practitioners, the implementation of the new regulations brings both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, with stricter market regulation, investment risks will become more controllable; on the other hand, it may also accelerate the reshuffling of the industry, allowing high-quality projects to stand out.

Against the backdrop of the ongoing evolution of global crypto asset regulation, Hong Kong's implementation of the Basel new regulations undoubtedly provides important references for other regions. In the future, how will Hong Kong's crypto asset market develop under the new regulations? How will banks, investors, and project parties respond? Let's wait and see!