The Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong has warned that unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges are engaging in improper practices, which is a criminal offense in the city. Some unlicensed trading platforms have claimed to have submitted license applications to the SFC when they have not. The regulator also cautioned that license applicants who violate regulations during a transitional period may not be granted a license. Despite this warning, Hong Kong has welcomed crypto firms and even encouraged banks to work with them, introducing a full licensing regime for virtual asset service providers in December 2020.
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