The financial hub is set to be Asia's first to accept cryptocurrency products as a mainstream investment tool, and the products have also received official regulatory approval from the Securities and Futures Commission, according to the Hong Kong markets watchdog's website. Cryptocurrency is banned in mainland China, but Hong Kong has been promoting itself as a global digital asset hub, part of a drive to boost its attraction as a financial centre. Several leading international crypto exchanges and funds at times in the past decade have had major operations in Hong Kong, though there have also been periods when many have left, with industry players blaming regulatory requirements.