Originally published on: August 28, 2024
Retail cryptocurrency investors in Hong Kong now have a broader spectrum of investment opportunities as HashKey, one of the two fully licensed exchanges in the region, has received approval for listing the Avalanche (AVAX) and Chainlink (LINK) coins. This move signals an expansion beyond the previously limited offerings of Bitcoin and Ether for retail traders in Hong Kong.
### Increased Choices for Retail Investors
Traditionally, professional investors with significant portfolios had access to a wider variety of cryptocurrencies compared to retail investors. However, this recent development on HashKey has now granted retail traders access to AVAX and LINK for trading against the US dollar.
### Legal Certainty Behind AVAX and LINK Listings
Avalanche’s AVAX, currently priced at $28.36, serves as the native coin of the Avalanche network and boasts a market cap of $9.3 billion, ranking it 13th largest according to the Cointelegraph index. On the other hand, Chainlink’s LINK, valued at $12.24, operates as the coin of the Chainlink oracle network, securing the 16th rank with a market cap of $6.9 billion.
HashKey’s CEO, Livio Weng, mentioned that AVAX and LINK were selected for listing due to their lack of legal conflicts, providing retail investors with a secure trading environment.
### Future Expansion in the Cryptocurrency Offerings
In the wake of this successful listing, Weng expressed optimism about potential approvals for additional cryptocurrencies in the retail market on HashKey, hinting at new listings in the coming weeks.
### Regulatory Landscape in Hong Kong
Hong Kong commenced allowing retail crypto trading in August 2023, following the regulatory upgrades of HashKey and OSL, the other compliant crypto exchange in the city. This move from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) resulted in the closure of exchanges without the required licensing by June 1.
As the regulatory landscape evolves, and with the recent developments in the cryptocurrency market, retail investors in Hong Kong have gained a significant advantage with the addition of AVAX and LINK on HashKey exchange. Stay tuned for further updates on the expanding cryptocurrency options available for retail traders in Hong Kong.
**Source:** HashKey Exchange
**Related News:** Hong Kong SFC issues a cautionary statement regarding an imposter crypto exchange masquerading as MEXC.
**Magazine:** Bitcoin miners facing challenges post electricity thefts and exchange-related scams: Asia Express.
