SEBA Bank, a digital assets bank regulated in Switzerland, has announced that its subsidiary has been granted a license by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong.
The development marks the first regulated foray of the SEBA Group into the Asia Pacific market, aligning with the bank’s strategic vision.
The newly acquired license enables SEBA Hong Kong to engage in a broad spectrum of regulated activities, including dealing in and distributing securities, advising on securities and virtual assets, and managing assets for discretionary accounts, encompassing both traditional securities and virtual assets.
Institutional and professional investors such as corporate treasuries, funds, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals can access SEBA Hong Kong’s comprehensive suite of licensed services.
Amy Yu, CEO of SEBA Hong Kong, APAC, praised the facilitating environment provided by the SFC during the licensing process and highlighted the strategic importance of Hong Kong’s leading position in finance, trading, and innovation.
“Our experience with the SFC has been extremely positive and it provided a facilitating environment throughout the licensing process. The region’s position at the forefront of finance, trading, and innovation has long been attractive to us, as servicing APAC clientele is an integral aspiration of the team’s DNA,” Yu stressed.
The acquisition of the SFC license is seen as a significant opportunity for business growth, given Hong Kong’s established capital markets and regulatory framework.
Franz Bergmueller, Group CEO of SEBA Bank, emphasized Hong Kong’s central role in the crypto economy and expressed satisfaction with the inclusion of the Hong Kong license alongside their existing Swiss (FINMA) and Abu Dhabi (FSRA) licenses.
“This regulatory clarity not only benefits our business but also supplements Hong Kong’s status as a global financial services hub, home to a multitude of market leaders in banking, asset management, and capital markets,” Bergmueller said.
The SEBA Group said it continues to monitor closely the wider regulatory landscape and will work in collaboration with regulators across the globe to identify further opportunities for growth.
“Most importantly, this SFC licence means that the SEBA Group operates globally from its regulated hubs of Switzerland, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong,” the digital assets bank said.
