Hong Kong, HashKey Cryptocurrency Staking Service Official Approval

Hashkey Exchange Approved To Provide Formal Staking Service By Hong Kong SFC (Source: HashKeyGroup, X)

As Hong Kong officially enters the cryptocurrency staking market, it has begun to expand investment methods within the institutional sphere. On the 10th local time, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) officially approved the provision of Ethereum staking services by the cryptocurrency exchange HashKey. This is one of the first cases of a platform with formal approval in Hong Kong offering staking services.

HashKey explained about this decision, "In the future, investors will not only be able to pursue profits through Ethereum ETFs but also choose to directly hold Ethereum and gain additional income through staking." The exchange emphasized that the staking function not only increases the profitability and utilization of digital assets but also secures institutional reliability as it is conducted in a regulated environment.

Last year, Hong Kong approved Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs to induce the influx of institutional funds. With this staking approval, a pathway has opened to provide passive income opportunities to ETF investors.

Meanwhile, the United States has approved Ethereum spot ETFs but has not yet allowed the inclusion of staking functions in those ETFs. However, since the appointment of a cryptocurrency-friendly commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after President Trump’s inauguration, expectations for regulatory relaxation have been growing.

Bloomberg Analyst James Seyffart predicted, "There is a possibility that an Ethereum ETF with staking functions may be approved in the U.S. as early as May." Among U.S. investors, the staking function is considered the key element to enhancing the competitiveness of local ETF products.