Ant Group Files Trademarks in Hong Kong for ANTCOIN and Stablecoins

Ant Group, China's largest internet finance company, is pursuing trademark registrations in Hong Kong for virtual assets and blockchain technology, including "ANTCOIN."

Applications were filed with Hong Kong's Intellectual Property Department for digital wallets, stablecoins, and online payments.
The ANTCOIN trademark application was submitted in June and is pending approval.
Registrations cover online payments, electronic wallets, foreign exchange services, and the issuance and transfer of stablecoins and digital tokens.

Strategic Brand Protection

Trademark applications aim to protect Ant Group's interests against unauthorized or fraudulent token use.
In October 2025, Beijing reportedly instructed major tech firms, including Ant Group, to pause stablecoin-related initiatives in Hong Kong. The trademark filings predate this directive.

Ant Group's Crypto Expansion

In July, Ant Group partnered with Circle to pilot USDC-based cross-border payments within Alipay+ network.
In September 2025, Ant Digital Technologies launched a blockchain platform for tokenizing energy assets, linking $8 billion worth of infrastructure to on-chain systems.
Global financial institutions are also moving towards stablecoin adoption, with Japan's major banks planning yen- and dollar-pegged stablecoins and North Dakota launching a state-backed stablecoin.