HashKey Exchange, a licensed cryptocurrency exchange in Hong Kong, has announced that it will launch its platform token $HSK in the second half of 2024. The exchange has released the Genesis VIP program this month, which allows new users who have completed KYC verification to receive a large amount of $HSK tokens, generating a lot of discussion in the community. This article will provide a step-by-step explanation of the registration and KYC verification process on HashKey Exchange.
HashKey has become the first licensed exchange in Hong Kong to offer services to retail investors since the introduction of the virtual asset trading platform licensing regime in June last year. After the bankruptcy of FTX in 2022 and the JPEX fraud case in 2023, which left many investors empty-handed, HashKey Exchange’s compliance image, recognized by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, has gained favor from institutions, professional investors, and even retail investors who prioritize asset security. It has now become one of the top compliant cryptocurrency trading platforms in Hong Kong.
Yesterday (16th), HashKey Group, the parent company of HashKey Exchange and a digital asset financial service group headquartered in Hong Kong, announced that it had successfully raised $100 million in Series A funding, with a pre-money valuation exceeding $1.2 billion. This achievement reflects the confidence of venture capital institutions in HashKey’s growth in the Web3 landscape in the Asia-Pacific region.
In early 2024, HashKey launched the limited-time Genesis VIP program, which offers significant fee discounts and the potential to receive a large amount of $HSK tokens. It is worth noting that HashKey plans to launch its platform token $HSK in the middle of 2024. The initial use cases of $HSK include transaction fees, exploration and empowerment of the RWA market, and ecological business rights, among others. According to the white paper, the total supply of $HSK is 1 billion tokens, with token distribution as follows: 650 million tokens for ecosystem growth, 300 million tokens for the team, and 50 million tokens for the insurance fund.
The Genesis VIP program will end on January 22, 2024, at 15:30. Users who have completed KYC verification will have the opportunity to participate, with two options available for limited purchase: Gold Card (80 available) priced at $12,000 USD, offering a 50% fee discount and a gift of 30,000 $HSK tokens, and Silver Card (200 available) priced at $800 USD, offering a 20% fee discount and a gift of 2,000 $HSK tokens. The price per $HSK token is approximately $0.4 USD. Each person can subscribe for up to 10 cards, and a random draw will determine the eligibility for card purchase. The card payment will be unlocked for users who did not win the lottery.
With the approval of Bitcoin spot ETF listing in the United States and the expected official issuance of virtual asset trading platform licenses in Hong Kong, there have been early opportunities for investors to register on HashKey Exchange and obtain the HSK platform token. The current number of purchases for the VIP program has exceeded the total issuance of 280 cards, reaching 1733.
In addition to the VIP program, new users who complete “registration + KYC + first trade” will also have the opportunity to receive up to 25 HSK tokens as an airdrop. The following steps will provide a detailed explanation of how to complete registration and KYC verification on HashKey Exchange.
Step 1. Visit the HashKey Exchange official website or download the official Apple/Android app.
Step 2. Click on this link to directly access the registration page or click on the “Register” button on the top right corner of the homepage.
Step 3. After successful registration, log in to the platform with your account and password. Click on the person icon on the top right corner of the homepage to access the account overview page. Click on the “Identity Verification” button and select “Start Verification” under the “Individual Verification” section.
Step 4. The personal verification process on HashKey Exchange includes both “Online Verification” and the newly added “Offline Verification” method. For online verification, transfer HKD 10,000 or the equivalent amount in USD to HashKey Exchange (Hong Kong). It is important to note that online verification is currently only available for bank accounts in 16 specific regions. If you do not have a bank account in the supported regions, you can choose the offline verification method.
Step 5. Follow the instructions to complete the “Basic Information Verification” and the “Investment Experience and Virtual Asset Knowledge Test” as required by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.
Step 6. After completing the previous steps, you can proceed with the “Bank Transfer Verification” process. This process requires transferring funds to HashKey Exchange (Hong Kong) from a bank account located in one of the supported regions. The transferred amount (after deducting transfer fees) should be greater than HKD 10,000 or the equivalent amount in USD (recommended to be above $1,400) to complete the transfer verification. If you do not have a bank account in the supported regions, you can choose the offline verification method.
Step 7. For offline verification, select the “Accountant/Lawyer Verification” option and choose the first option, which authorizes a third-party accountant/lawyer to contact you for verification if you are in Taiwan. If you are currently residing in Hong Kong, you can choose the “Hong Kong Employee Verification” option, and an employee from HashKey’s office in Hong Kong will assist with the verification process.
Step 8. Follow the instructions to provide your mobile number, email, and name that matches your registration and KYC information. Check the agreement box and click “Submit” to complete the appointment.
Step 9. HashKey provides a link to expedite the appointment for offline verification. Click on the link and choose the desired appointment time. Taiwanese users can make an appointment for video verification, while users currently residing in Hong Kong can make an appointment for in-person verification at the Hong Kong office. Prepare the required documents, including your passport and address proof issued within the last three months (bank statements and utility bills showing your name and address information).
Step 10. The offline verification process takes approximately 5 minutes and involves signing account opening documents. After completing the process, you will be guided to upload documents or submit physical documents (account opening application form, passport copy, and address proof) to the Hong Kong office.
Please note that HashKey Exchange does not support customers from sanctioned countries/regions. Customers residing in jurisdictions where virtual assets are not restricted are accepted, but they need to ensure that their address proof and phone number are not from unsupported countries/regions, including Mainland China, the United States, Malaysia, etc.
By following these steps, users can successfully complete the registration and KYC verification process on HashKey Exchange.