HashKey Exchange Receives Approval from Hong Kong SFC to Launch Ethereum (ETH) Staking Services

HashKey Exchange received approval from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) on April 10, 2025. The SFC granted this approval following its new guidelines on staking services.

Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange HashKey Exchange has received approval from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to offer ether (ETH) staking services to retail users and authorized crypto funds.

HashKey Exchange announced the news via its official X account on Monday. The exchange said it had become one of the first licensed virtual asset trading platforms in the country to gain this type of approval.

This announcement came three days after the SFC published a formal set of regulatory rules on Friday.

The new framework permits only licensed platforms to operate staking services. The SFC also allowed SFC-approved virtual asset funds to participate in such services. This decision had direct implications for Ethereum ETF staking in the local market.

HashKey Exchange Applied For And Received Approval To Launch Ethereum ETF Staking Services

Terence Pu, managing director at HashKey Exchange, confirmed that the exchange will offer ETH staking through its spot ETF products. He said the approval allows customers to earn ETH staking returns through HashKey’s system.

Pu explained that the ETH staking service will comply with SFC rules and operate using HashKey Cloud infrastructure. This setup enables ETF holders and ETH holders to participate in staking through a secure and regulated platform.

“This approval is a milestone practice in Hong Kong’s virtual asset regulatory innovation,” Pu said.

“HashKey Exchange has built a staking service system that meets regulatory requirements, taking the lead in providing ETH staking services for spot ETFs, and is actively promoting the provision of staking services to all customers.”

He added that HashKey Exchange may expand these staking services to more digital assets in the future, depending on regulations.

Hong Kong SFC Released New Staking Guidlines Earlier This Week

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission published its official staking guidance on Monday, April 7. The document details how licensed virtual asset trading platforms and SFC-approved funds can provide staking services.

The SFC approval for HashKey Exchange followed these guidelines. Local media outlet PANews reported on the decision, quoting official sources who confirmed that HashKey Exchange had received the green light from the SFC.

The SFC said the decision followed feedback from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), which noted the benefits of offering ETH staking in regulated markets.

According to the CSRC, staking helps secure blockchain networks and allows investors to earn yield from virtual assets. Both factors contribute to a healthier and more sustainable crypto ecosystem.

ETH Staking Services Tied To Regulatory Compliance In Key Markets

The ETH staking model offered by HashKey Exchange will rely on licensed infrastructure. As per the new rules, only SFC-regulated platforms are permitted to offer ETH staking services in Hong Kong.

This limits the number of eligible participants and places emphasis on compliance. All staking products must adhere to operational and custodial standards set by the SFC. Any platform offering staking without approval risks enforcement actions.

The SFC has not yet announced if additional exchanges will receive similar licenses. For now, HashKey Exchange is one of the first to gain approval to offer ETH staking in the country. The exchange also plans to increase service coverage based on future market rules.