There are four broad ways to buy crypto in Hong Kong: an SFC-licensed trading platform, a bank or broker app that routes to one, an international exchange, or cash at a walk-in shop or ATM. Each carries a different level of regulation, cost and risk, and brands within the same group differ a lot too. This page gathers all 16 of our reviews by category. Every review carries its data check date, and anything we could not verify is labelled as such.
Exchanges and apps: the five main platforms, scored
All five are in our Hong Kong top 10, with the same scores used across the site. The tag shows licence status: “SFC-licensed” means the platform itself holds the licence; “via licensed VATP” means a bank or broker hands execution to a licensed platform; “offshore” means no Hong Kong licence at all.
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CEX.IO
Offshore · not SFC-licensedInternational exchange (since 2013)
International exchange founded in 2013. Instant buys by Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay, with 300+ assets. Hong Kong users are served by CEX OVRS LLC in Nevis: no SFC licence, no HKD and no FPS.
- Cost: Spot up to 0.25%; card 0.49–4.99% + service charge
- Funding: Visa/Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SWIFT (USD/EUR/GBP)
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HashKey Exchange
SFC-licensedSFC-licensed platform
SFC-licensed (BPL992) with an HKEX-listed parent (3887). HKD deposits by FPS and eDDA, a base trading fee around 0.29%, and withdrawals to your own wallet; no card funding.
- Cost: 0.29% base (lower for VIP)
- Funding: FPS, eDDA, HKD/USD bank transfer
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OSL
SFC-licensedSFC-licensed platform (first, 2020)
Hong Kong’s first licensee (BPJ213, 2020). FPS, eDDA, cards and Apple Pay all accepted; Flash Trade is 0% commission with a spread. Retail gets only BTC, ETH, SOL and XRP.
- Cost: Flash Trade 0% commission (spread applies)
- Funding: FPS, eDDA, bank, Visa/MC, Apple Pay
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Futu · PantherTrade
Via licensed VATPBroker app (licensed VATP PantherTrade)
Buy crypto inside the Futubull app through Futu’s own licensed platform PantherTrade (BUY578), with stocks and crypto in one account. Zero commission at the 2024 launch; current fees and withdrawals unverified.
- Cost: Zero commission at launch (2024); check current schedule
- Funding: HKD/USD in the brokerage account
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ZA Bank
Via licensed VATPVirtual bank (via HashKey)
Asia’s first bank to offer retail crypto trading, executed by HashKey. One tap inside the app, but a 1.5% platform fee plus HK$15 a trade (press figures) and no withdrawals.
- Cost: 1.5% platform fee + HK$15 per trade
- Funding: Straight from your ZA account
CEX.IO, in first place, is not a licensed platform, and we say so everywhere it appears. It ranks first because for someone who wants to buy instantly by credit card or Apple Pay, or wants coins that licensed venues don’t list, its process is the most direct, its choice the widest and its fee table public. The price is no HKD or FPS and no Hong Kong investor protection. If local regulation matters most, HashKey Exchange and OSL are the two mainstream licensed choices; the differences are laid out in HashKey vs OSL. If you already have a Futu or ZA account, Futu with PantherTrade and ZA Bank spare you a new sign-up, in exchange for higher fees or limited withdrawals.
| If you care most about | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Instant card buys, many coins | CEX.IO | Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay; 300+ assets (not licensed) |
| HKD deposits, explicit fees | HashKey | FPS and eDDA; 0.29% base; withdrawals allowed |
| A licence and card funding | OSL | Most payment options of any licensed venue |
| Stocks and crypto in one app | Futu | Buy from the securities account; compare with ETFs |
| One tap inside a bank app | ZA Bank | No new account, but higher fees |
Local crypto shops and ATM networks
Cash is still a common way to buy crypto in Hong Kong. Operator lists parsed on 6 October 2026 show about 202 crypto ATMs across the city, only 8 of which buy coins back for cash, all of them COINHERO machines. The government estimated in 2024 that around 200 physical virtual asset OTC shops operate here. We reviewed the two biggest ATM networks and three walk-in brands, using operators’ own published information rather than site visits.
Crypto card
Crypto cards convert coins to fiat at the point of sale. They are convenient, but costs stack up across issuing partners, FX and ATM withdrawals, and in Hong Kong they are not regulated as a card product. If an issuing partner fails, a card can stop working overnight. Other cards open to Hong Kong residents are compared in crypto cards.
Is it legal to use offshore exchanges in Hong Kong?
Plenty of Hong Kong searches aren’t after a review at all, just whether a platform can be used here. None of the five international brands below holds an SFC licence, but their situations differ: some list Hong Kong as restricted, one is on the SFC alert list, one is still an applicant. Each brand page covers licence status, restrictions and cash-out risk.
Choosing for your situation: three common cases
However many reviews you read, the decision comes back to your own circumstances. Here is how the 16 reviews fit together in three typical cases.
A Kwun Tong office worker buying HK$3,000 of Bitcoin for the first time. If your salary already goes into ZA Bank, buying in-app is quickest but costs around HK$60. Opening a HashKey account and paying in by FPS costs around HK$9, at the price of the sign-up assessments. If you want to buy tonight by credit card, an international exchange is the most direct route, provided you accept no SFC protection and foreign-currency fees.
A student in Sha Tin with only cash who wants a little USDT. Shops and ATMs may not lawfully offer stablecoins such as USDT to the public, and their fees are high; buying Bitcoin at an ATM can cost 13% plus HK$100. The safer path is to deposit the cash into your own bank account and buy through a licensed platform, after reading the rules in buying USDT in Hong Kong.
A family in Tin Shui Wai with a Futu account who want a long-term Bitcoin slice. Futu lets them buy spot crypto or an HKEX-listed Bitcoin ETF in the same app; if they don’t want to manage a wallet, the ETF may be all they need. If they want coins on a hardware wallet, they need a licensed exchange that allows withdrawals.
Whatever the case, step one is the same: look the platform up on the SFC site, confirm the name and web address are on the licensed list, and check it is not on the alert list.
How we score
Every exchange and app is scored on the same criteria, and each score is the same everywhere on the site: home ranking, review page and comparisons all use one number. We weigh five things: licence and regulation (SFC-licensed, via a licensed platform, or offshore), HKD funding (FPS, eDDA, bank transfer, cards), fee transparency (whether fees can be checked on an official page), coin range, and sign-up and usability. Shops, ATM networks and card brands are a different kind of product, so those reviews focus on locations, fees, ID rules and legal status rather than a single score.
Facts come only from traceable sources: the SFC’s licensed and alert lists, government press releases, operator websites and terms, public company announcements, and press reports labelled as such. We never claim to have “tested” or “visited” anything; operator claims, third-party figures and anything unverified are marked on the page. The full approach is on our methodology page, and if you spot something out of date, please contact us.
Check the licence before the fee. However cheap a platform is, it isn’t cheap if nobody answers for it when something goes wrong.
Our suggestion: keep most of your money on an SFC-licensed platform with HKD and FPS going in and out, use an international exchange only for what licensed venues can’t do, and use cash only when you understand the risks. Checking a licence takes two minutes on the SFC site: match the company name, CE number and web address.
Want to check for yourself? The SFC’s licensed platform list and alert list are public, and we re-checked both on 6 October 2026 for these reviews.
Frequently asked questions
How do you score crypto platforms?
Each platform is scored on five criteria: licence and regulatory status, HKD funding options, fee transparency, coin range, and sign-up and day-to-day usability. Data comes from the SFC’s lists, operator websites and public documents, each with a check date, and anything we could not verify is flagged as such. Full details are in our methodology.
Why is CEX.IO ranked first if it is not licensed in Hong Kong?
The ranking reflects a specific use: buying instantly by card. CEX.IO has a direct sign-up, takes Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay, and lists the most coins. But it has no SFC licence, so Hong Kong investor protection does not apply, and there is no HKD or FPS. If local regulation matters most, choose HashKey or OSL.
How many licensed crypto exchanges are there in Hong Kong?
As of 6 October 2026 the SFC lists 13 licensed virtual asset trading platforms; the list was last updated on 29 May 2026. OSL and HashKey are the two retail investors use most. The full list with CE numbers is on our licensed platforms page.
Are crypto shops and Bitcoin ATMs in Hong Kong licensed?
Not for virtual assets. Shops and ATMs are not licensed by the SFC; some hold a Customs money service operator licence, which only covers money changing and remittance. The government plans a new licensing regime for virtual asset dealing with no transitional period, but as of 6 October 2026 the bill had not been gazetted.
Is it legal to use Binance, OKX or Bybit in Hong Kong?
Using an offshore platform is not in itself an offence for an individual, but none of these holds an SFC licence. OKX lists Hong Kong as a restricted location; Bybit has been on the SFC alert list since 14 March 2024; Binance never applied for a Hong Kong licence. Each brand page explains the detail, for example is Binance legal in Hong Kong.
Sources
- SFC — lists of virtual asset trading platforms · checked 6 Oct 2026
- SFC — suspicious virtual asset trading platforms alert list · checked 6 Oct 2026
- FSTB — consultation conclusions on VA dealing and custody services · 24 Dec 2025
- CEX.IO — unsupported countries and territories · checked 6 Oct 2026
- COINHERO — ATM locations and fees · checked 6 Oct 2026
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.