HashKey, a prominent institutional asset manager based in Hong Kong that specializes in blockchain technology and digital assets investments, has recently acquired a Type 1 license from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). This license marks a significant milestone for HashKey as it broadens the scope of its regulated services in Hong Kong.

With the newly obtained Type 1 license, HashKey Capital is now empowered to offer brokerage services to a wide range of investors, including both retail and professional clients. Additionally, the license enables the firm to engage in marketing and distributing funds and structured products related to virtual assets. This development complements HashKey Capital’s existing Type 9 license, which allows the company to provide asset management products to various client segments.

Notably, HashKey Capital has also received approval to offer discretionary account management services for virtual assets under its existing licenses. The firm’s strategic expansion includes a Type 4 license acquired last year, which authorizes it to provide securities and virtual asset investment advisory services.

Vivien Wong, a Partner at Liquid Funds, emphasized the value that the Type 1 license brings to investors by enhancing HashKey Capital’s capabilities. Wong highlighted the firm’s commitment to offering a diverse range of investment opportunities tailored to different risk profiles, with a strong emphasis on risk management and long-term growth.

The enhanced services offered by HashKey Capital can be categorized into three main segments: market access, investment funds, and structured products. In terms of market access, the firm can facilitate brokerage services for clients in both traditional financial markets and the crypto space, without taking custody of client assets.

Regarding investment funds, HashKey Capital now offers clients access to a variety of quantitative strategies, including arbitrage trading, commodity trading advisory, market neutral, and trend-following approaches. The firm also provides structured investment products such as principal-protected solutions, yield enhancement products, binary options, dual-currency offerings, and other sophisticated strategies.

These expanded offerings enable HashKey Capital to cater to a broader spectrum of investors, including retail and institutional clients, family offices, distribution channels, and newcomers to the crypto space like insurance companies and endowments. By fostering financial inclusion in the crypto sector, HashKey Capital aims to mainstream virtual assets in Hong Kong and position the region as a hub for digital assets.

In addition to its current product lineup, HashKey Capital plans to introduce new investment vehicles, building on the success of its HashKey Top 20 Index Fund. The firm’s collaboration with global financial institutions underscores its commitment to delivering institutional-grade digital asset products to the market.

As a leading crypto fund manager and an early investor in Ethereum, HashKey Capital has a proven track record of managing over $1 billion in client assets. The firm’s extensive portfolio spans diverse sectors, including institutional services, infrastructure, data, artificial intelligence, consumer services/technology, and more. Moreover, HashKey Capital manages a suite of digital asset products, including actively managed funds and ETFs listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, further solidifying its position in the digital asset space.