HKSI Institute Launches Pioneering Certification Programme for Virtual Asset Practitioners

Hong Kong, 17 March 2025 – The Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute (HKSI Institute) today launches Hong Kong’s first certification programme tailored specifically for practitioners managing, advising on, or dealing with virtual assets (VA) – the Certification Programme for Virtual Asset Professionals (CVAP).   

The CVAP was developed in consultation with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and subject matter experts through the HKSI Institute’s Virtual Asset Working Group (VA Working Group), ensuring integration with local regulatory expectations and the practical needs of the industry.  The CVAP establishes the baseline core competencies for financial services practitioners in VA-related services to meet the rising demand for VA. 

“We are excited to launch this programme in alignment with the SFC’s “A-S-P-I-Re” roadmap to position Hong Kong as a global hub for VA.  Our aim is to promote sustainable development of the VA sector and cultivate a strong human capital talent pool.  Our sincere thanks to the VA Working Group for their invaluable contributions, and to the SFC for their support in establishing a respectable industry benchmark for practitioners,” said Mr Kevin Liem, Chairperson of the HKSI Institute.  

“As demand for VA products grow, the CVAP addresses the critical awareness gap by covering key topics, including blockchain fundamentals, wallet types, product risks, real-world applications, and legal and regulatory compliance topics crucial for VA practitioners,” said Miss Angelina Kwan, Chair of the VA Working Group.  “The CVAP will not only empower traditional financial practitioners to enhance their knowledge  for the VA market, but also equip university students with practical knowledge to be future-ready in the evolving financial landscape,” she added.   

Two-Step Certification

The CVAP offers a structured and flexible e-learning approach for busy professionals.  It consists of a core curriculum with fundamental modules and an examination, followed by business-focused electives – offering a total of five Continuous Professional Training (CPT) hours and the Certificate of Virtual Asset Professional upon meeting the CVAP requirements.

The fundamental modules of the programme examine regulatory, industry and product topics specific to the Hong Kong market.  Complementing this, the elective modules delve into VA dealing, advisory services, and product distribution, covering major themes of tokenisation, custody, selling conduct, and portfolio management. 

CVAP enrolment is now open, and the first examination will take place on 15 May 2025, with subsequent examinations to be held monthly.  To keep pace with the dynamic VA market, additional elective modules will be introduced to further enhance the specialisation and expertise of practitioners.

Details on CVAP are available on the website.

Mr Kevin Liem, Chairperson, HKSI Institute (third from the left) is flanked by the VA Working Group Members (left to right): Mr Rocky Mui, Partner, Clifford Chance; Miss Angelina Kwan, Managing Director, Stratford Finance Limited; Mr Gary Tiu, Executive Director and Head of Regulatory Affairs, OSL Group Limited and Mr Robert Lui, Partner and Hong Kong Digital Asset Leader, Deloitte China, along with Miss Ruth Kung, Chief Executive, HKSI Institute.