SFC proposes to further restrict use of misleading names to enhance investor protection

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong has proposed amendments to the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) to restrict the use of certain titles that could mislead investors into believing a business is a regulated exchange, clearing house, or virtual asset trading platform (VATP), or is associated with well-known entities, when it is not. The amendments aim to expand the list of restricted titles to include modern terms like “trading platform,””virtual assets,” and “cryptoassets,” and to address gaps in current regulations. Public feedback is invited by 11 August 2025 on the proposed changes, including the scope of restricted titles and the need for dual regulation under both ordinances. Resources: https://apps.sfc.hk/edistributionWeb/gateway/EN/news-and-announcements/news/doc?refNo=25PR87