The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has taken another leap in its digital currency journey.
In its latest e-HKD Phase 2 report, the central bank revealed results from 11 pilot programs exploring tokenized assets, programmable money, and offline payments. One project, powered by Chainlink, demonstrated how tokenized assets could move securely across blockchains under strict compliance conditions.
The pilot is part of Hong Kong’s ongoing effort to build the foundation for a potential retail and wholesale central bank digital currency.
In a statement shared by Chainlink, the company said its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and Automated Compliance Engine (ACE) were used in the pilot with ANZ, China AMC, and Fidelity International. These tools enabled secure cross-chain settlements between Australian investors and Hong Kong asset managers.
The pilot showed that tokenized money market funds could be purchased using e-HKD and tokenized deposits. This setup removed many of the friction points that institutions face when moving value across different networks. It provided a proof of concept for how regulated institutions can transact digitally without compromising compliance.
The Chainlink team explained that the system addressed three main barriers to institutional tokenization.
It provided verified data for accurate asset pricing, enabled real-time cross-chain connectivity, and automated compliance by validating identity proofs on-chain. Together, these tools allowed secure, transparent transactions that met policy standards across multiple jurisdictions.
According to the HKMA’s official release on October 28, the authority concluded that an e-HKD offers unique benefits in large-value settlements.
The central bank found that both e-HKD and tokenized deposits improve efficiency and resilience in digital transactions. However, it plans to prioritize wholesale payment use cases for now, citing greater demand and maturity in institutional applications.
The next phase will focus on building the policy and legal frameworks needed for broader rollout. The HKMA expects this groundwork to finish by mid-2026, aligning with international developments and evolving technology.
Eddie Yue, the HKMA’s Chief Executive, said the pilot results have deepened the institution’s understanding of digital money’s future role.
The authority also confirmed it will release a set of token standards to support programmable money in Hong Kong’s ecosystem. These standards will aim to ensure compatibility across various tokenized assets and payment systems.
Chainlink’s involvement shows how public blockchain infrastructure can complement regulated environments.
