Hong Kong regulator adds Aurum Foundation to suspicious-platform watchlist amid wider crackdown
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has added Aurum/Aurum Foundation to its Alert List of suspicious virtual-asset trading platforms, warning the entity may be operating without the regulator’s required authorization.
According to the SFC, Aurum’s website says the firm is registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance and offers trading in virtual assets, futures contracts and derivatives. The regulator says Aurum does not hold an SFC license and is suspected of conducting unlicensed activities, prompting its inclusion on the Alert List — a public watchlist intended to flag firms that may pose risks to investors.
Aurum joins an expanding roster of platforms flagged by the SFC in 2026, including:
- exiovip.top (flagged June 9)
- StableStock and Stablestocks Lab Limited (May 8)
- EQU Asset Management (April 22)
- Quant Global Technologies and Quant Global Technologies Hong Kong (March 16)
- Globiance X Limited and Globiance HK Limited (February 3)
- ADG platform and Grid FinTech Limited (February 3)
- Blue Rock Capital Limited (February 10)
- R-Coin Wallet, R-Wallet and JUMANJIN CO., LIMITED (January 27)
- Ju.com (January 26)
Investor guidance and broader regulatory push
The SFC urged investors to check its official list of licensed virtual-asset trading platforms before depositing funds. The regulator has repeatedly warned that unlicensed operators often use social media marketing, claims of business partnerships or unusually attractive returns to lure users.
The move against Aurum comes amid Hong Kong’s broader effort to extend regulatory oversight of the crypto sector. In May, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the SFC published consultation conclusions on a proposed licensing framework for firms providing virtual-asset advisory and portfolio-management services. Authorities received 51 submissions during the consultation.
Under the proposal, virtual-asset advisory services would be treated similarly to Type 4 regulated activity (advising on securities/virtual assets), while virtual-asset management would align with Type 9 (asset management) under Hong Kong’s existing regulatory regime. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui described the proposals as part of Hong Kong’s digital-asset policy to strengthen investor protection, and SFC Chief Executive Julia Leung said the planned regime would apply standards comparable to those used in traditional financial services.
Bottom line for crypto users: always verify a platform’s SFC licensing status before sending funds, and be wary of aggressive marketing or deals that look too good to be true.
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