Hong Kong Approves Crypto as Proof of Assets for Investment Immigration

Hong Kong has officially approved cryptocurrency as proof of assets for investor immigration, refining its wealth verification process and expanding how digital assets can be considered under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES).

The Hong Kong Investment Promotion Agency confirmed that Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings were recognized in two recent cases under the HK$30 million ($3.8 million) residency requirement.

The first case, approved in October 2024, involved an applicant using Bitcoin holdings, while the second case, approved in February 2025, saw an applicant leveraging Ethereum assets. Both cases involved individuals primarily from mainland China.

Storage & Investment Conversion Requirements

Under the policy, applicants must securely store their digital assets, either in cold wallets or on major cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance.

Investment migration expert Stephen Barnes clarified that while cryptocurrency can be used to verify net worth, it cannot be directly invested to obtain residency. Instead, applicants must convert their crypto assets into qualifying investments within six months of approval.

"The subsequent investment of HK$30 million will need to be made in the normal course of events," Barnes stated.

Qualifying Investment Options & Program Growth

To fulfil the investment requirement, applicants must allocate their HK$30 million investment into approved asset classes, with "no specific requirements" for Crypto cases. These typically include:

• HKD-denominated listed securities
• Hong Kong real estate
• Private entity investments in Hong Kong
• Certificates of Deposit (COD) in HKD

Since its March 2024 relaunch, the CIES program has attracted 670 applications, generating over HK$20 billion in investments.

This development follows Hong Kong’s October 2024 policy update, which expanded investment options to include residential properties valued at HK$50 million or above, allowing up to HK$10 million to count toward the investment requirement.