Hong Kong broker Futu Securities has taken a major step by enabling direct deposits and withdrawals of Binance Coin (BNB) tokens via the BNB Smart Chain network. This move opens a legal pathway for BNB to be traded on Futu's multimillion-user platform, which includes the Futubull and moomoo brands. Previously, users could only trade BNB within the company's closed loop, but now qualified investors can transfer the real token between their external wallets and Futu brokerage accounts.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) quickly reacted to the integration by announcing the launch on his official X page. The technical operations are handled by PantherTrade, a Futu subsidiary licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Access to on-chain transactions is restricted to professional investors with a minimum capital of 8 million Hong Kong dollars (~$1 million). To comply with anti-money laundering (AML) standards, external wallet addresses must undergo preliminary verification, and withdrawals can take up to three business days.
This development coincides with Hong Kong's broader push toward digitalizing its financial sector. In October 2026, banking giant HSBC launched the RedCoin (RCHKD) stablecoin within its PayMe app, while the Anchorpoint Financial consortium continues rolling out the HKDAP stablecoin. The Hong Kong government also completed its fourth issuance of digital 'green' bonds worth 20 billion Hong Kong dollars, settled in tokenized deposits. According to Secretary for Financial Services Christopher Hui, digitized capital on the region's bank balance sheets has already reached 29 billion Hong Kong dollars.
The regulatory environment in Hong Kong is becoming stricter, with a new law set to be submitted to the Legislative Council by the end of the year. Platforms without a Virtual Asset Trading Platform (VATP) license will be required to cease operations immediately. In this competitive landscape, BNB's direct access to Futu's audience gives the ecosystem a significant advantage, even as competitors like Solana expand their presence in the region.