HashKey Capital Secures SFC Approval to Offer Virtual Assets Discretionary Account Management to Professional Investors in Hong Kong

HONG KONG — 5 February 2025 — Following the most recent approval from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong, HashKey Capital can now offer discretionary account management services for virtual assets (VA) to professional investors under the firm’s existing type 9 licence. With this recent approval, HashKey Capital can now manage curated investment products, including spot crypto investments and derivatives for professional investors across a pre-approved list of exchanges, and make investment decisions tailored to their goals.

HashKey Capital is among the select few fund managers authorised by the SFC to offer VA discretionary managed accounts. This approval enables HashKey Capital to deliver bespoke, end-to-end services to professional investors across the entire investment lifecycle:

• Tailored investment mandates — Professional investors can select from HashKey Capital’s pre-designed investment strategies or work with the team to develop fully customised mandates. These can include not only spot investments but also innovative solutions like over-the-counter (OTC) trading and derivatives.
• Flexibility in Trading Platforms — HashKey Capital’s authorisation to offer discretionary account management across multiple exchanges ensures clients are not restricted to a single platform. Clients can choose from a vetted list of trading platforms, each selected for its industry-leading security, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Seamless Strategy Execution — Once an investment strategy is finalised, HashKey Capital manages all aspects of its execution. This includes discretionary buying and selling, asset allocation, ongoing monitoring, rebalancing, and detailed reporting — allowing professional investors to focus on their broader financial goals with peace of mind.

With this streamlined discretionary account management workflow, HashKey Capital enables professional investors to efficiently gain exposure to virtual assets while prioritising robust risk management.

“Investors have historically been cautious about entering the virtual asset space due to the associated risks. With our discretionary account management services, we provide clients with the confidence to explore this sector, backed by the expertise of industry professionals managing their portfolios in alignment with their investment mandates,” said Vivien Wong, Partner, Liquid Funds.

Discretionary account management is not only a valuable offering but also aligns with Hong Kong’s vision to position itself as a premier hub for virtual assets in the Asia-Pacific region. While Hong Kong has introduced one of the world’s most progressive crypto frameworks, regulatory clarity is still evolving for certain investment products, such as OTC and derivatives, due to the expansive and intricate nature of the sector.

To address this gap, HashKey Capital’s discretionary account management authorisation is beneficial. The fund manager can assist professional investors in navigating these emerging products, even as the SFC and other Hong Kong regulators work to establish clear guidelines around them.

“Professional investors do not want to be late and miss out on key new opportunities in crypto. At the same time, they want to maintain the good graces of regulators. Through discretionary account management, HashKey Capital can help institutions balance these needs: We can assist them in venturing to new products with a focus on complying to still-developing frameworks,” said Vivien Wong, Partner, Liquid Funds.

Professional investors interested in discretionary account management for a VA portfolio are encouraged to contact the team at liquidfunds@hashkey.com.