CMB International Securities Limited, a subsidiary of China Merchants Bank (CMB), one of China’s largest banks with over $1.7 trillion in assets, has launched a cryptocurrency exchange in Hong Kong. CMB International Securities Limited, a subsidiary of the China Merchants Bank (CMB), which is recognized as one of China’s top banks and the 8th largest in the world, launched the cryptocurrency exchange on August 18, 2025. CMB dips into crypto trading According to a WeChat announcement from Monday, the bank now offers virtual asset trading services, a step that comes after the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission ( SFC ) approved the bank’s application for a virtual asset service provider license in mid-July. CMB’s Hong Kong-based crypto exchange allows for 24/7 trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether. However, according to documentation provided by the bank, only professional investors will be able to access the crypto trading services. China Merchants Bank is one of the country’s largest banks, with over $1.7 trillion worth of assets under its management as of the end of March, according to Macrotrends data. The bank’s ordinary class A shares have a market capitalization of $153.16 billion. The move lends credence to Hong Kong’s campaign to establish itself as a global digital asset hub , even though crypto trading has been banned since 2017 in mainland China. CMB International and Solana announced a collaboration CMB International also has plans to explore tokenized assets and has already started the process with the announcement of the CMBMINT money market fund on Solana. According to a post from the official Solana account on X, CMB International has made its HK-Singapore Mutual Recognition Fund tokenizable on Solana. The rollout came via a partnership with DigiFT, a Singapore-licensed real-world asset (RWA) exchange, and OnChain, an RWA service provider on Solana. The alliance highlights increasing institutional confidence in blockchain finance as TradFi and crypto continue to intersect. The fund exists on the basis of the HK-Singapore Mutual Recognition of Funds and is a direct result of a scheme the CSRC and SFC began in 2015. It has facilitated interstate investment in funds to the tune of more than $20 billion and is an indication of the heightened use of blockchain in the distribution of funds in the contemporary world. The move is expected to influence other projects, which will have a great environment to grow within Hong Kong’s encouraging business climate. Hong Kong Financial Services Secretary Paul Chan has emphasized that the government is all for traditional institutions getting involved in the virtual asset markets through regulated channels. “We encourage traditional financial institutions to participate in the virtual asset market in a compliant manner,” he said, clarifying that the existing regulatory framework aims to balance investor protection with innovation while enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international financial center. KEY Difference Wire helps crypto brands break through and dominate headlines fast
