金管局警告加密货币公司误导性使用“银行”一词不仅欺骗消费者，还违反香港银行业条例

2024 年 11 月 15 日，香港金融管理局（HKMA）（香港事实上的中央银行）对两种海外加密货币发出严厉警告

Two overseas cryptocurrency firms have been found to be misrepresenting themselves as banks, prompting a stern warning from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Tuesday.

两家海外加密货币公司被发现谎称自己是银行，周二香港金融管理局（HKMA）发出了严厉警告。

One of the firms is said to have described itself as a bank on its website, while another referred to its card as a “bank card.”

据称，其中一家公司在其网站上将自己描述为一家银行，而另一家公司则将其卡称为“银行卡”。

The HKMA expressed concern that such claims could mislead consumers into believing that these firms are licensed banks in Hong Kong and that their products and services are provided by licensed banks in the city-state.

金管局表示担心，此类说法可能会误导消费者，让他们相信这些公司是香港持牌银行，并且其产品和服务是由香港持牌银行提供的。

“Such acts may constitute a contravention of the Banking Ordinance,” the HKMA said.

金管局表示，“此类行为可能违反《银行业条例》”。

The Banking Ordinance specifies the institutions that are permitted to carry out banking business in Hong Kong. Only licensed banks, restricted license banks, and deposit-taking companies, which are licensed by the HKMA, are authorized to operate banking and deposit-taking businesses.

《银行业条例》规定了获准在香港开展银行业务的机构。只有经金管局发牌的持牌银行、有限制牌照银行和接受存款公司才有权经营银行和接受存款业务。

No other person is permitted to carry on banking business or to hold itself out as a bank, and a person shall not use the word “bank” in the name of his business or in describing any business carried on by him unless he is a licensed bank, the ordinance states.

任何其他人不得经营银行业务或自称为银行，并且任何人不得在其业务名称中或在描述其经营的任何业务时使用“银行”一词，除非他是持牌人银行，该条例规定。

The HKMA said that the use of the term “bank” by crypto firms not only misleads the public but also constitutes a breach of the ordinance.

金管局表示，加密货币公司使用“银行”一词不仅误导公众，而且构成违反该条例的行为。

“The HKMA will take follow-up actions, including referring the relevant cases to the Department of Justice for legal proceedings if necessary,” the monetary authority said.

金管局表示，金管局将采取跟进行动，包括如有需要，将相关案件移交律政司采取法律程序。

Hong Kong has been positioning itself as a major global crypto hub, with increasing momentum in recent years.

香港一直将自己定位为全球主要的加密货币中心，近年来势头不断增强。

In June 2023, the city introduced a licensing regime designed to regulate crypto trading platforms while promoting innovation within the digital asset sector.

2023 年 6 月，该市推出了一项许可制度，旨在监管加密货币交易平台，同时促进数字资产领域的创新。

The system mandates that licensed crypto firms follow stringent guidelines to ensure consumer protection, such as maintaining a minimum capital requirement, adhering to cybersecurity standards, and implementing measures to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.

该制度要求获得许可的加密货币公司遵循严格的指导方针，以确保消费者保护，例如维持最低资本要求、遵守网络安全标准以及采取措施防止洗钱和恐怖主义融资。