Hong Kong brokers saw commission income from virtual asset trading decline in the first half of 2026, bucking the broader strength of the local securities industry.
According to the Securities and Futures Commission's financial review released in October 2026, brokers earned HK$99.3 million in virtual asset trading commissions during the first half of 2026, compared with HK$114.8 million in the second half of 2025. This represents a decrease of HK$15.5 million, or 13.5%.
The decline stood out against an otherwise robust period for Hong Kong's securities sector. Net profit for the industry jumped 21% to HK$51.7 billion over the same half-year period. Combined net commission and interest income across all business lines—including securities, futures, options, leveraged forex, and virtual assets—grew 13% to HK$45.4 billion, up from HK$40.1 billion in the prior period.
Virtual asset trading has remained a small revenue stream for traditional brokers relative to their core businesses in equities, derivatives, and margin lending. The SFC's review did not identify specific brokers or break down the data by individual digital asset platform.
The research accompanying the review connected the findings to ongoing regulatory developments and market dynamics shaping Hong Kong's virtual asset landscape. The decline suggests a potential slowdown in crypto trading activity through Hong Kong-regulated brokers, which could affect investor confidence and liquidity in the sector.
