Ant Group’s ‘AntCoin’ Trademark Filing Signals Potential Stablecoin Expansion
Ant Group, the Alibaba-linked fintech powerhouse behind Alipay, has filed a trademark application for “AntCoin” in Hong Kong, a move that hints at the company’s growing interest in blockchain-based payments, stablecoins, and Web3 finance.
The filing, submitted in June, has resurfaced across crypto circles ahead of Hong Kong FinTech Week, where Ant Group Chairman Eric Jing will appear alongside Financial Services Secretary Christopher Hui and Primavera Capital Chairman Fred Hu. This year’s conference is expected to have one of its strongest digital asset focuses yet, marking a shift from its typically traditional finance orientation.
Public records show that AntCoin’s filing spans a broad financial spectrum, covering areas such as banking, lending, foreign exchange, blockchain settlement, stablecoin issuance, digital custody, and loyalty rewards. The scope suggests Ant Group could be preparing to connect its Alipay ecosystem with Hong Kong’s regulated Web3 and stablecoin framework.
The move follows Ant’s earlier remarks about exploring Hong Kong’s new stablecoin licensing regime, which took effect in August, providing clearer rules for issuers backed by fiat reserves and subject to redemption and governance requirements.
While the filing does not confirm a token launch, analysts view it as a strategic step toward regulatory readiness, allowing Ant Group to position itself ahead of other fintechs as Asia’s financial hubs race to integrate blockchain into payment systems.
Ant Group declined to comment when contacted by CoinDesk.
