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Standard Chartered, HKT, Animoca to form JV for HK dollar-backed stable coin.

Feb 17 (Reuters) - Standard Chartered Plc (STAN.L), opens new tab, (2888.HK), opens new tab said on Monday its Hong Kong banking division, Animoca Brands and HKT (6823.HK), opens new tab will establish a joint venture to apply for a license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for issuance of a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin.

Standard Chartered said it has entered agreements with Animoca Brands, a company which specialises in Web3 for leveraging blockchains, and HKT, a major telecommunications service provider in Hong Kong, in order to "enable the JV to tap into crypto-native opportunities" and "enhance both domestic and cross-border payments", according to its statement.

StanChart said it looks forward to becoming one of the first issuers launching an HKD-backed stablecoin with its strategic partners, according to Mary Huen, Chief Executive Officer of the bank's Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia division.