HSBC goes live with tokenized deposits in Hong Kong amid global banking shift
According to a report from SCMP citing HSBC official statements, the settlement service allows the conversion of bank cash deposits into digital tokens on the blockchain. This will allow the bank’s corporate customers to make real-time payments using US Dollars (USD) and Hong Kong Dollars (HKD).
The service is expected to reduce the cost of client transactions and ensure that payment can happen within a shorter period and at all times. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) supported the initiative through its Supervisory Incubator for Distributed Ledger Technology.
Speaking on the achievement, HSBC’s global head of domestic and emerging payments for global payments solution, Lewis Sun, said it can improve payments and cash management.
Sun said:
“Tokenised deposits, when supported by regulated financial institutions, can offer a safe and fully compliant approach to improving payments and cash management for [companies].”
The service already has its first user, with Alibaba affiliate Ant International using it for an instant fund transfer. Ant noted in a separate press release that the pilot test of the product using Ant’s blockchain-based global treasury management platform, the Whale.
HSBC integrated the experience from the pilot testing into the tokenized deposit service before the full launch. Currently, the service is only available in Hong Kong, but HSBC plans to expand it to other countries in Asia and Europe by the year’s second half.
Meanwhile, the launch of the tokenized deposits is only another step in the long-term tokenization plan for HSBC. The bank launched gold tokenization as far back as 2023 and plans to use the blockchain network and technologies to create a new digital transfer and settlement infrastructure.
Part of its planned use cases include digital currency settlements and other forms of tokenization. The bank has been exploring various uses of digital ledger technologies with initiatives such as tokenized bonds, the Orion blockchain platform, and several others.
However, it is not alone; several other major banks and financial institutions have identified tokenization as the next frontier for the financial markets. Institutions such as BlackRock, JP Morgan, Visa, Mastercard, and others are all exploring the incorporation of tokenization into payments and financial markets.
Several banks, including Bank of America, Euroclear, and Italian Central Bank, also recently tapped Solana as a tokenization layer after developer R3 partnered with Solana Foundation to connect its private blockchain Corda to the public network.
The massive interest in the sector from every stakeholder, both traditional institutions and fintech companies, explains why researchers predict it could be worth $30 trillion by 2030.
Meanwhile, HSBC’s choice of Hong Kong to launch the tokenized deposit service highlights how the city has become a major hub for global financial innovation. Hong Kong has been active in its efforts to attract financial technology and digital assets companies with regulatory clarity and government-banked initiatives.
Unsurprisingly, the tokenized deposit service is a product of one of such initiatives, with HSBC being one of the key participants in Phase 2 of the city’s e-HKD Pilot Program. The program focuses on banks experimenting with how tokenized fiat currencies can be used in digital asset transactions. The bank has also been involved in HKMA projects such as mBridge and Ensemble.
Interestingly, Hong Kong also recently passed a Stablecoin bill that expands its regulatory framework for digital assets by requiring all stablecoin issuers to get a license from the HKMA. The government claims that the new law, which is expected to come into force this year, will provide financial stability while encouraging innovation.
KEY Difference Wire : the secret tool crypto projects use to get guaranteed media coverage
CZ Denies ‘Fixer’ Role in World Liberty Financial Deals
Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has denied claims that he acted as a “fixer” in dealings involving World Liberty Financial (WLF).
CZ is accusing the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of publishing another “hit piece” based on false information and negative intent.
In a May 23 X post , he claimed the media outlet’s reporting had changed into a textbook case of “Cunningham’s Law.” Zhao explained that a few days before the article was published, the company’s PR team had sent him several questions based on false assumptions.
“We told them there were numerous inaccuracies and unfounded inferences,” he wrote. The publication asked his team to identify the errors, but he explained that a story can’t be corrected when built on negative intentions from the start.
Among the claims made in WSJ’s inquiry was that CZ had helped WLF arrange meetings with government officials in Pakistan, Malaysia, and Kyrgyzstan. The article suggested that he introduced a Pakistani official, Mr. Saqib, to the WLF team.
A week after his visit to the region, the crypto project named the man an adviser. Further, the Journal emphasized that on April 26, the WLF team traveled to Pakistan to sign an MOU with the government.
However, the former exchange executive has denied these claims. “I am not a fixer for anyone,” he stated. He also clarified that he did not connect Mr. Saqib with the WLF team, pointing out that they already knew each other. Zhao added that he had met the Pakistani official for the first time during his stay in the country.
The Binance co-founder also suggested that the WSJ article was part of a broader agenda to stop progress in the crypto industry.
“There are forces in the U.S. that want to hinder efforts in making the U.S. the capital of crypto. They want to attack crypto, global crypto leaders, and the pro-crypto administration,” he claimed.
This isn’t the first time Zhao has accused WSJ of publishing false stories. In March, the newspaper shared that Trump’s family was in talks to invest in Binance.US and that the 48-year-old was seeking a presidential pardon.
At the time, he described the article as politically motivated, suggesting it was an attempt to undermine the president and the crypto industry. However, he later acknowledged that he had formally applied for clemency from Trump.
More recently, the former CEO dismissed allegations from a separate news piece that said he had agreed to provide evidence against Tron founder Justin Sun as part of a plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
CZ suggested the report might be tied to lobbying efforts aimed at damaging his and Binance’s reputation. Sun also rejected the claims, saying he was unaware of such rumors and referred to Zhao as his “mentor and close friend.”
This Week’s Crypto News Highlights | 24 May, 2025
Folks, I’m back with your weekly crypto round-up and trust me, you’re going to want to pay attention to this one.
This week has been a wild ride for investors and enthusiasts. Big headlines. Big consequences. We’ve seen it all – from political power plays to million-dollar scandals. All of these are powerful signals hinting at where the industry is really heading. So, if you blinked, you’ve missed a lot.
We’ll dive into what happened these past few days and why it matters for you. Let’s go!
#1 Trump’s $TRUMP Crypto Dinner Drama
Justin Sun, the crypto billionaire who once dodged the US spotlight fearing arrest, stepped back into the limelight – this time as a VIP at Donald Trump’s exclusive gala dinner. Sun, proudly holding the biggest stash of Trump’s $TRUMP memecoin, showed up amid protests shouting “shame.” Trump himself took the stage, blaming the previous administration for making life miserable for crypto insiders, calling it a “disgrace.”
Sun flashed over $1.3 million in $TRUMP holdings and a flashy “Trump Golden Tourbillion” watch. Predictably, Democrats like Senator Elizabeth Warren called it “an orgy of corruption”. Phew.
#2 Sui’s $260M Crypto Heist: What Went Down?
Sui’s largest decentralized exchange, Cetus Protocol, was hit with a $260 million hack that sent shockwaves through the SUI ecosystem. The attacker exploited fake tokens like BULLA to mess with liquidity pools and drain assets, including 12.9 million SUI and $60 million in USDC.
They then tried laundering the loot by swapping a big chunk of USDC for 21,938 ETH. Cetus jumped on damage control, pausing smart contracts and launching a full probe.
Meanwhile, SUI’s price took a hit, dropping about 15% to $3.90. The scramble is on to recover funds and shore up security.
#3 GENIUS Act (Finally) Breaks Ground in Stablecoin Law
The U.S. Senate just cleared a major hurdle by advancing the GENIUS Act with a 66-32 vote – the first stablecoin bill to make it this far. This bipartisan win came after last-minute tweaks and pressure from crypto advocates like Stand With Crypto.
The bill lets private firms issue stablecoins and demands full backing with dollars or Treasury bills. While it bars foreign stablecoins on U.S. centralized exchanges, decentralized platforms remain untouched.
Critics say the revisions are mostly cosmetic, leaving loopholes like weak data safeguards and possible regulatory capture. Big moves, but is it enough?
#4 Pi Network’s $8M Scam: Pump, Dump, and Investor Fury!
Pi Network is under fire with explosive $8 billion scam allegations after insiders reportedly dumped 12 million PI tokens. Blockchain sleuth Atlas points to a classic pump-and-dump move – sharp price surges followed by a brutal 50% crash post-May 14.
Despite a bullish spike fueled by an 86 million token withdrawal from OKX (hinting at strong holder confidence), the price has since slumped to $0.79. The project also battles criticism over exchange listings, token distribution, and node centralization, raising serious questions about its future. Is it the end of the road for Pi? I hope not.
#5 Blum Co-Founder Detained in Russia
Big news out of Russia – Vladimir Smerkis, co-founder of the Telegram-based crypto project Blum and former head of Binance Russia, has been arrested in Moscow on large-scale fraud suspicions. The heat comes from his previous ventures, The Token Fund and Tokenbox, where investors reportedly lost around $15 million.
While the investigation is ongoing and no formal charges are out yet, Russian courts have approved his detention. Blum quickly clarified that Smerkis resigned and is no longer connected to the project, distancing themselves from the scandal.
#6 Cardano CEO Fires Back at $600M Allegations
Charles Hoskinson is pushing back hard against claims he misused $600 million worth of ADA tokens. The drama centers on accusations that during Cardano’s 2021 Allegra hard fork, Hoskinson used a “genesis key” to control 619 million ADA. But he says most of the 350 million ADA involved were already redeemed over seven years, with the leftovers donated to Intersect, a Cardano-affiliated org.
Feeling “deeply hurt” by the distrust, Hoskinson plans to release an audit report and might hand over his social channels to a media team to clear the air.
#7 Nasdaq Welcomes First Ever XRP Futures ETF
The wait is over – XRP stepped into the ETF spotlight with the launch of Volatility Shares’ XRPI ETF, trading on Nasdaq. This 1x XRP futures ETF offers a safer, measured way to access Ripple’s price action without holding the token directly. Analyst Eric Balchunas called it a “good signal” of growing demand for crypto investment vehicles.
With leveraged XRP ETFs already firing up interest and CME’s recent XRP futures rollout, XRPI marks a new phase in XRP’s journey. I’m loving this one!
#8 MSTR Holdings Surge as States Seek Bitcoin Proxy
14 US states revealed a collective $632 million stake in MicroStrategy (MSTR) during Q1 2025, marking a 42% jump from the previous quarter. California leads with $276 million, followed by Florida and North Carolina. Utah’s holdings skyrocketed 184%, while Wisconsin sold its $300 million Bitcoin ETF stake, increasing MSTR instead.
This shows states prefer indirect Bitcoin exposure through MicroStrategy’s massive 576,230 BTC stash, avoiding direct crypto ownership complexities.
#9 Who’s Buying USDC? Circle’s Next Move
Circle, the powerhouse behind USDC, is stirring the pot with a $5 billion valuation price tag as it entertains acquisition talks. Ripple and Coinbase have both stepped into the ring, but Circle shot down Ripple’s XRP-heavy bid, citing concerns over liquidity and valuation mechanics.
Meanwhile, talks with Coinbase are reportedly friendlier – “If Coinbase wanted to buy them, Circle would sell in a second,” insiders say. Despite these moves, Circle’s IPO ambitions remain alive but shaky, as broader market volatility and trade policies push the company to rethink timing.
Big questions loom over USDC’s future path.
#10 Texas Bitcoin Reserve Bill Passed
Texas just got one step closer to becoming America’s Bitcoin bull state. Senate Bill 21 – which would establish a state-run Bitcoin Reserve – passed its final House vote, clearing 101-42. All that’s left is Governor Abbott’s signature, and the signs are strong.
He even shared the proposal on X, and crypto voices like Kyle Chassé are already calling it: “It’s happening.” If Abbott signs before the June 2 deadline, Texas will follow New Hampshire as the second U.S. state with its own BTC stash. Trump’s vision is shaping up quite well.
In the Spotlight
Here’s a few quick hits you shouldn’t miss!
HSBC Goes Live with Tokenized Deposits: HSBC has officially launched its Tokenised Deposit Service in Hong Kong, enabling 24/7 fund transfers using blockchain tech. Ant International led the charge as the first client to go live.
A Wall Street Stablecoin? Yep, It’s Being Discussed: Some of the biggest U.S. banks – including JPMorgan, Citi, and Wells Fargo – are reportedly discussing a joint stablecoin venture, according to WSJ. Early talks, but major implications if it lands.
Crypto Meets Stocks, Powered by USDT: Bybit just launched stock trading with USDT via Metatrader 5, giving users access to Apple, Tesla, gold, forex, and crypto from one account. Multi-market action at its best.
CZ Slams Trump Crypto Allegations: CZ has slammed the Wall Street Journal for linking him to Trump-backed crypto dealings, calling the report a “hit piece.” He flatly denied acting as a “fixer” or brokering any WLF meetings.
Semler Bets the House on Bitcoin: Semler Scientific just dropped $50M on Bitcoin, boosting its stash to over 4,264 BTC. With losses mounting and a crypto-first strategy now official, this healthcare firm is betting big again.
What’s Next for Crypto?
Major shifts to expect ahead
With Texas and other U.S. states doubling down on MicroStrategy and BTC reserves, expect a growing wave of state-led crypto strategies. A formal Bitcoin reserve could become a blueprint for other red states, especially under pro-crypto leadership.
The launch of the XRPI ETF on Nasdaq signals that altcoin futures ETFs are gaining traction. With CME backing XRP and Ethereum products next in line, this could bring mainstream capital to major alts fast.
The GENIUS Act may have passed its Senate hurdle, but its foreign token ban and loose guardrails could trigger lawsuits, revisions, or even state-level pushback. Keep an eye on regulation updates to predict how the market might react.
Crypto never sleeps, and neither do we – catch you next week with the hottest moves and biggest surprises. Stay sharp!