Why this site exists
Hong Kong’s crypto rules have changed faster than most of what is written about them. Since 2023, trading platforms need an SFC licence, the Stablecoins Ordinance has been in force since 1 August 2025, and a separate licensing regime for dealers and custodians, which would cover walk-in shops, is still on its way. Meanwhile, many search results still point Hong Kong readers to global listicles that recommend platforms whose own terms exclude Hong Kong.
BuyCrypto.hk was built to close that gap. We compare every legal route, from the SFC-licensed platforms and the bank and broker apps that sit on top of them, to Bitcoin ATMs and walk-in shops across 22 districts, with fees, funding methods and licence status side by side.
Who we are
BuyCrypto.hk is written and edited by an independent editorial team working in Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong usage) and English. We do not put individual bylines on pages: every article is edited and fact-checked before it is published under the team name, and we take collective responsibility for it. When we say “we” on this site, that is who we mean.
The Chinese edition at the root of the site is the primary version. The English edition under /en covers the same facts but is written in its own words rather than machine-translated, so that each reads naturally to its audience.
Editorial independence
BuyCrypto.hk is independent. We are not affiliated with, owned by or part of any exchange, bank, broker, ATM operator or crypto shop mentioned on the site. Rankings and scores follow our published methodology, and a platform’s licence status is always shown next to its name.
We also name an editor’s pick for one specific job: buying instantly by card or Apple Pay with a wide coin choice. For that, we currently choose CEX.IO, and we say plainly on every page where it appears that it is not licensed by the SFC, that Hong Kong investor protection does not apply, and that readers who want HKD and FPS deposits should use a licensed platform.
How we work
Facts come from primary sources wherever possible: the SFC’s lists of licensed platforms and its alert list, HKMA registers, government press releases and LegCo papers, the laws themselves, and operators’ own websites and machine lists. Every page shows when its data was checked. Where we rely on press or third-party data, we say so; where something could not be confirmed, we label it unconfirmed rather than fill the gap. We never claim to have tested an app, visited a shop or opened an account unless that is literally what happened. The full process is on our methodology page.
Get in touch
Spotted an error, a closed ATM or a changed fee? Email contacts@buycrypto.hk. Corrections are our priority, and you can read what else we can and cannot help with on the contact page.
Ready for your first coin?
Sign-up and the ID check take a few minutes. Then buy Bitcoin, Ether or USDT with Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay.
It is not licensed by Hong Kong’s SFC, so local investor protection does not apply. For HKD and FPS deposits, use a licensed platform.