Standard Chartered-backed stablecoin venture Anchorpoint is taking a cautious approach to offering its Hong Kong dollar-backed digital currency to retail customers, declining to confirm a previously suggested launch window.
Anchorpoint steps back from 2026 retail target
Anchorpoint had earlier indicated that retail users could gain access to its stablecoin as soon as the end of 2026. However, Chief Executive Dominic Maffei did not reaffirm that timetable during a Friday press conference, according to the South China Morning Post, as reported by Cointelegraph.
Instead, Maffei said the venture intends to develop the market gradually and sustainably. He said that moving too quickly with a launch would not make sense, signalling that Anchorpoint has not committed to a specific date for making the product available to the general public.
A stablecoin is a digital asset designed to maintain a stable value against an underlying currency or other reference asset. In Anchorpoint’s case, the planned token is backed by the Hong Kong dollar. The company first introduced its institutional stablecoin product in August, but access for individual users remains undecided.
HSBC raises the competitive pressure
Anchorpoint’s update follows HSBC’s launch of RedCoin, another Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin. HSBC made the product available on Friday to the 3.3 million users of its PayMe mobile-payment application.
The contrasting approaches highlight the different stages of development among financial institutions exploring stablecoins in Hong Kong. HSBC has already placed its token within an established retail payments platform, while Anchorpoint is continuing to assess how and when its own product should reach consumers.
Anchorpoint’s institutional launch means the venture has already moved beyond development for business users. Its decision not to confirm a retail date, however, leaves the timing of a broader rollout open.
The companies behind Anchorpoint
Anchorpoint was formed through a partnership between Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands and telecommunications provider HKT. The partnership was announced in February 2025, after the three companies jointly participated in Hong Kong’s stablecoin issuer sandbox in July 2024.
Standard Chartered is the banking partner in the venture, while Animoca Brands contributes blockchain expertise and an industry network. Animoca is also expected to help develop applications for the stablecoin across the Web3 ecosystem. HKT is the telecommunications partner.
Maffei’s comments suggest that Anchorpoint is prioritising a measured expansion rather than matching a rival’s retail launch immediately. The company’s next retail milestone has not been specified.
Market picture
Moneyiar market data at 22:39 on October 25, 2026, showed the following prices and moves:
- Stable (STABLE): $0.0265498473, down 2.51% over 24 hours and up 10.84% over seven days.
- RedStone (RED): $0.1452603192, down 2.72% over 24 hours and up 6.36% over seven days.
- Notcoin (NOT): $0.000370248, down 1.43% over 24 hours and down 0.63% over seven days.
- Moca Network (MOCA): $0.008767382, down 8.38% over 24 hours and up 5.39% over seven days.
The market figures cover the listed digital assets and are separate from Anchorpoint’s Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin, whose retail launch date remains unconfirmed.
