Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has granted approval to OSL HK, the city’s first licensed digital-asset exchange, to offer retail trading of Solana (SOL). This development makes Solana the fifth cryptocurrency available to retail investors under the city’s regulated regime, joining Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Avalanche (AVAX), and Chainlink (LINK).
The exchange confirmed that Solana trading went live on August 11, 2025, at 11:00 PM (UTC+8) via its “Flash Trading” service. Retail traders can now access three trading pairs — SOL/USD, SOL/HKD, and SOL/USDT — with both deposits and withdrawals supported directly through the Solana network. This integration allows for faster transaction speeds and lower fees, two features often cited as key advantages of the Solana blockchain.
New Trading Options and Market Access
OSL stated that professional-tier “Pro Trading” for the SOL/USD pair will commence later in August, offering advanced execution tools and deeper liquidity for institutional and professional traders. While professional access will expand over time, the immediate availability of retail trading positions Solana within the reach of everyday investors — an important step in broadening market participation under a compliant framework.
By securing SFC approval for retail Solana trading, OSL has underscored its commitment to regulatory transparency and operational compliance. The company was among the first to secure a full license under Hong Kong’s virtual asset trading platform regime, which requires rigorous adherence to investor protection measures, anti-money laundering (AML) protocols, and robust custody standards.
Regulatory Milestone for Hong Kong’s Crypto Market
This approval comes at a time when Hong Kong is actively positioning itself as a regulated global hub for digital assets. In recent years, the city has taken a measured but progressive approach to crypto adoption, balancing innovation with investor safeguards. By enabling retail access to a wider range of cryptocurrencies within a regulated ecosystem, Hong Kong aims to attract both institutional players and a new wave of retail participants.
The inclusion of Solana is particularly significant given its reputation for high-performance blockchain infrastructure and growing ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps). Its appeal extends beyond traders to developers and enterprises exploring blockchain solutions for payments, gaming, and Web3 services.
Industry observers view this move as a signal of Hong Kong’s openness to supporting diverse blockchain networks within its financial market framework. With Solana now part of its retail offering, OSL is expected to continue expanding its token listings in the coming months. As more licensed exchanges in Hong Kong follow suit, the city’s crypto trading landscape is likely to see increased liquidity, product diversity, and competition.
For retail investors, the ability to trade Solana under a fully licensed and compliant framework provides not only market access but also greater confidence in the security and governance of the platform. As regulatory clarity continues to evolve, Hong Kong may serve as a model for other jurisdictions seeking to integrate digital assets into their mainstream financial systems.