Ant Group Files Crypto Trademarks in Hong Kong Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

Ant Group, the fintech giant behind Alipay, has quietly filed trademark applications in Hong Kong covering VIRTUAL assets, stablecoins, and blockchain technology. The move signals potential Web3 ambitions despite recent regulatory pressure from Beijing that forced the company to halt stablecoin issuance plans.

The trademark filings coincide with a broader scramble among Chinese tech firms to secure intellectual property in digital assets, even as regulators tighten oversight. ANT Group had previously announced plans to pursue stablecoin licenses in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Luxembourg before receiving directives from Chinese authorities to pause such initiatives.

Hong Kong's stablecoin ambitions now face significant headwinds. Both Ant Group and JD.com were instructed by the People's Bank of China and the Cyberspace Administration of China to abandon their stablecoin projects by mid-October, casting doubt on private sector participation in currency-like tokens.