Alibaba Affiliate Ant Group Moves to Trademark ‘AntCoin’ in Hong Kong Amid Digital Asset Buzz

Ant Group’s ‘AntCoin’ Trademark Filing in Hong Kong Hints at Stablecoin and Web3 Integration

Ant Group, the Alibaba-affiliated fintech firm that operates Alipay, has filed a trademark for “AntCoin” in Hong Kong, a move widely viewed as laying the groundwork for a potential expansion into blockchain-based financial services and regulated stablecoin infrastructure.

The filing, submitted in June, comes ahead of Hong Kong FinTech Week, where Ant Group Chairman Eric Jing is scheduled to speak alongside Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services Christopher Hui and Primavera Capital Chairman Fred Hu. This year’s event features an unusually strong digital asset agenda for a conference traditionally centered on traditional finance.

According to public records, the AntCoin trademark covers an extensive range of financial categories — from traditional banking, lending, and foreign exchange to blockchain settlement, stablecoin issuance, digital asset custody, and loyalty programs. The wide scope suggests that Ant Group is positioning AntCoin as a strategic bridge between its existing Alipay network and Hong Kong’s regulated Web3 ecosystem.

While the filing itself does not confirm an upcoming token launch, it signals that Ant is preparing the legal and operational foundations to participate in Hong Kong’s new stablecoin licensing framework, which came into effect in August.

The new regime allows licensed entities to issue fiat-backed stablecoins under clear reserve, redemption, and governance standards—part of Hong Kong’s broader effort to attract digital finance innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight.

Industry observers view Ant’s timing as deliberate, aligning with both Hong Kong’s regulatory clarity and growing institutional interest in Asia’s digital asset markets.

Ant Group did not immediately respond to CoinDesk’s request for comment.