Shinhan Financial Seeks Hong Kong Digital-Asset License to Expand Tokenized-Asset Business

Shinhan Financial Group is seeking a digital-asset license in Hong Kong as it moves to expand its tokenized-asset business.

Shinhan Securities' Hong Kong unit is in discussions with the city's Securities and Futures Commission on handling security token offerings and tokenized real-world assets, Herald Business reported on May 19.

The brokerage already holds Hong Kong licenses for securities dealing and brokerage (Type 1), investment advisory (Type 4) and asset management (Type 9). It is also pursuing a virtual-asset license uplift that would allow digital-asset trading.

The discussions suggest a push to expand beyond traditional financial services into the distribution of tokenized assets.