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Hong Kong’s HashKey to Launch $500M Digital Treasury Fund

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HashKey Group, Hong Kong’s leading licensed crypto exchange and digital asset manager, announced plans to launch a $500 million Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) fund, joining the wave of firms adopting bitcoin-style treasury strategies pioneered by U.S. software firm MicroStrategy (MSTR.O).

MicroStrategy, which began stockpiling bitcoin in 2020, now holds more than $63 billion in crypto, inspiring “copycats” worldwide. Collectively, such treasury adopters have amassed nearly 100,000 bitcoin, according to Standard Chartered.

HashKey said the fund will create a diversified DAT portfolio, initially focused on the Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems, with the goal of advancing crypto asset standardization and fostering a sustainable Web3 infrastructure.

“The strategy is not just a U.S. phenomenon — it’s spreading across Hong Kong, Japan, and other equity markets,” Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said at a recent Hong Kong bitcoin conference, noting how DAT adoption is gaining traction in Asia.

Founded in 2018, HashKey Group offers services spanning asset management, brokerage, tokenization, and runs Hong Kong’s largest licensed crypto exchange. By leveraging its global footprint, HashKey said it plans to both initiate and invest in leading DAT projects, accelerating institutional-grade adoption of blockchain technologies.

Standard Chartered Raises Year-End Ether Forecast to $7,500

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Standard Chartered has raised its year-end target for ether to $7,500, up from $4,000, citing stronger industry engagement and increased holdings of the cryptocurrency in recent months. The new forecast represents a nearly 60% premium over ether’s recent high of $4,700.

Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, offers staking opportunities, allowing holders to earn rewards by supporting the Ethereum network, unlike Bitcoin which relies solely on price appreciation. Ether has surged more than 50% over the past month, boosted by the passage of the Genius Act, which establishes a regulatory framework for dollar-pegged stablecoins.

Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s head of digital assets research, highlighted that growth in the stablecoin sector—projected to expand eightfold by 2028—would drive increased transaction fees on Ethereum, boosting demand for ether. The brokerage also raised its 2028 forecast for ether to $25,000 and noted that Ethereum treasury companies could hold up to 10% of circulating ether, supporting long-term growth.

Standard Chartered Launches Joint Venture to Apply for Stablecoin License in Hong Kong

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Standard Chartered (2888.HK) announced on Friday the formation of a joint venture, Anchorpoint Financial, with strategic partners Animoca Brands and HKT (6823.HK) to apply for a license to issue stablecoins in Hong Kong. This move comes shortly after Hong Kong’s stablecoin legislation officially took effect.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, commonly used for transferring funds within the crypto ecosystem. The newly passed Hong Kong bill, effective August 1, sets a clear regulatory framework for fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers.

Anchorpoint Financial has formally expressed interest to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in obtaining the stablecoin issuer license. The HKMA anticipates granting the first licenses early next year, signaling a growing institutional push into regulated digital currencies in the region.