CATENAA, Wednesday, November 12, 2025- Standard Chartered is placing Hong Kong at the center of its global digital finance strategy, leveraging the city’s progressive regulatory environment to advance blockchain initiatives, CEO Bill Winters said.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Winters highlighted Hong Kong’s openness to financial experimentation, citing the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s pilot programmes on tokenized deposits, wholesale central bank digital currencies, and stablecoins as examples of regulatory support.
The bank aims to use blockchain to lower transaction costs, boost efficiency, and expand services for customers worldwide.
Hong Kong recently launched its “Fintech 2030” strategy, guided by the DART framework, which emphasizes data and payments, artificial intelligence, resilience, and tokenization.
The initiative includes over 40 programmes focused on integrating new technologies, improving cybersecurity, and enhancing financial inclusion, with projected sector revenue surpassing $600 billion by 2032.
The city’s Securities and Futures Commission is also easing restrictions on licensed crypto exchanges, allowing them to connect with global order books and access broader liquidity.
Standard Chartered has been actively participating in the HKMA’s regulatory sandboxes, testing blockchain applications in controlled environments.
The bank intends to invest $1.5 billion in wealth management over the next five years, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Hong Kong as a digital finance hub.
