CoinEx News: Hong Kong expects its first government-licensed stablecoins to go live between the middle and second half of 2026, the government told local lawmakers. A stablecoin is a crypto token pinned to a currency such as the US or Hong Kong dollar; an issuer license means the regulator has vetted who is legally allowed to mint one. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority granted its first two licenses — to HSBC and a Standard Chartered-backed venture — in April 2026, out of roughly three dozen applicants under a law in force since August 2025.