Alibaba’s Ant Group Files ‘AntCoin’ Trademark in Hong Kong, Signaling Web3 and Stablecoin Intent
Ant Group, the fintech arm of Alibaba and operator of Alipay, has filed a trademark for “AntCoin” in Hong Kong, in a move that hints at expanding its footprint into the blockchain and digital-asset space.
While the filing does not confirm an imminent token launch, it signals that Ant Group is laying regulatory and legal groundwork to potentially link its massive payments network with Hong Kong’s evolving Web3 and stablecoin infrastructure.
The trademark, filed in June and recently uncovered by crypto analysts, spans a wide array of financial services — including banking, lending, foreign exchange, blockchain settlements, stablecoin issuance, and digital-asset custody. The scope of coverage positions AntCoin as a possible bridge between Alipay’s traditional financial ecosystem and Hong Kong’s licensed digital-asset markets.
The timing of the revelation has drawn attention, coming just days before Ant Group Chairman Eric Jing is set to speak at Hong Kong FinTech Week alongside Financial Services Secretary Christopher Hui and Primavera Capital’s Fred Hu. This year’s event leans heavily toward digital assets — a departure from its traditional finance focus — adding fuel to speculation that Ant may be preparing for a Web3 initiative.
Ant Group previously stated that it was assessing Hong Kong’s new stablecoin licensing regime, which came into force in August. The framework allows approved entities to issue fiat-backed tokens under regulatory oversight, creating new opportunities for major financial players to enter the space.
If AntCoin advances beyond the filing stage, it could represent Asia’s first major fintech-led stablecoin initiative, merging Ant’s 1.3 billion-user Alipay ecosystem with Hong Kong’s push to become a regional digital-asset hub.
Ant Group did not immediately respond to CoinDesk’s request for comment.
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