Futu has announced that its wholly-owned virtual asset trading platform, PantherTrade, has begun full-scale licensed operations.
PantherTrade will integrate with Futu Securities, the Group’s retail brokerage platform in Hong Kong, providing trade matching, custody, and technical infrastructure.
This integration enables dual-track operations for traditional finance and virtual assets within a regulated framework.
PantherTrade is the first brokerage-incubated virtual asset trading platform in Hong Kong to obtain full-scale operational authorisation.
The platform’s licensed status allows Futu to offer both securities brokerage and virtual asset exchange services, creating a combined financial infrastructure for trading and related services.
The Group intends to leverage Hong Kong’s regulatory environment for Web3 development while maintaining compliance as a central principle.
Through the Futubull app, investors can manage stock and virtual asset allocations on a single platform.
PantherTrade will support high-net-worth clients with customised services. These include OTC block trading and tailored virtual asset products.
The platform enables centralised management and risk control across assets.
The platform also provides a one-stop solution for virtual asset ETF issuers. This covers the full product lifecycle, from issuance to custody and staking.
Futu has previously partnered with China Asset Management (Hong Kong) to launch tokenised money market funds on Futubull. It also completed a proof-of-concept under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) Project Ensemble Sandbox.
PantherTrade is engaging regulators on launching a compliant tokenised money market fund with 24/7 secondary trading and plans to expand tokenised securities and on-chain investment products.
Futu will introduce securities-backed margin trading for virtual assets, allowing clients to leverage existing holdings for market exposure.
Under regulatory guidance, the Group is exploring integrating virtual asset holdings into a unified collateral framework to enhance cross-asset liquidity and capital efficiency.
Steve Zeng, Managing Director of Futu Group, said:
“With the integration of our virtual asset platform and brokerage services, Futu aims to bridge traditional and digital finance, offering cross-asset allocation while maintaining compliance and security. This approach supports Hong Kong’s development as a Web3 hub and provides investors with diversified, forward-looking investment options.”
Featured image credit: Futu press release