Alibaba Affiliate Ant Group Files ‘AntCoin’ Trademark in Hong Kong, Hinting at Crypto Ambitions

Ant Group, the fintech giant affiliated with Alibaba and operator of Alipay, has filed a trademark application for 'AntCoin' in Hong Kong. This move suggests the company is preparing to enter blockchain-based financial services, including stablecoin issuance and digital-asset custody, potentially bridging its existing payments ecosystem with Hong Kong's regulated Web3 economy. The filing's scope covers extensive financial activities, ranging from traditional banking and lending to blockchain settlement and loyalty rewards. This development aligns with Ant Group's prior indication that it was exploring Hong Kong’s new stablecoin licensing regime, which became effective in August. The timing of this filing is notable, occurring just before Ant Group Chairman Eric Jing is set to speak at the crypto-focused Hong Kong FinTech Week.

(Source：CoinDesk)