Hong Kong now accepts Bitcoin and Ethereum as proof of assets for investment immigration. Applicants must hold HKD 30 million in crypto.
Hong Kong now recognizes Bitcoin and Ethereum as proof of assets for investment immigration applications. This is the first time the government has approved cryptocurrency for this purpose. So far, two cases have been successful. One applicant used Bitcoin, while the other used Ethereum.
To join the program, applicants need to have a minimum balance of HKD 30 million in crypto assets. People need to put their assets into cold crypto storage devices or transfer them to reliable exchanges at Binance. This practice keeps assets secure for everyone to see.
A person deposited 30 million Hong Kong dollars in Ethereum on February 7, 2025, to stand as an international business investor. The Hong Kong Investment Promotion Agency accepted the submitted application. A Bitcoin holder obtained approval before this applicant in October 2024. The two applicants are Chinese citizens who come from mainland China.
Accountant Xiao Yaohe verified these approved investment immigration applications. Hong Kong now allows investors to use cryptocurrency as legitimate proof of assets for migration procedures. The government made a substantial update to its financial strategies with this new decision.
A candidate must demonstrate HKD 30 million worth of assets to start the investment immigration process. Within half a year they need to invest their required HKD 30 million amount in Hong Kong. The government needs to announce if direct crypto investments and crypto ETFs both meet the requirements for investment immigration.
As a first step applicants gain a temporary two-year visa permission. The program extends their visa length to a cycle of two years followed by two years then three years. The immigration process consists of two years followed by two years and another three years in this sequence. When they seek visa renewal applicants must show they continue to own investment assets of the needed amount. They can begin their permanent residency process once they have achieved all requirements.
Hong Kong Investment Promotion Agency made the first crypto-based applications a breakthrough when they decided to process these applications. They started reviewing applications one month later and agreed to accept them.
Besides two active applicants, the agency now reviews additional applications using cryptocurrency. Similar to other applications, they must keep their funds secured in cold wallet services or Binance.
