Ant Group Files “ANTCOIN” Trademark in Hong Kong, Signaling Return to Digital Assets
Ant Group, the fintech powerhouse founded by Jack Ma, is taking measured steps back into the digital asset arena through strategic intellectual property filings in Hong Kong.
According to a Monday report from the Hong Kong Economic Times, Ant Group has applied to register several trademarks linked to virtual assets, stablecoins, and blockchain technologies — including one for “ANTCOIN.” The filings, submitted in June to Hong Kong’s Intellectual Property Department, outline a sweeping range of financial services under the ANTCOIN brand, spanning online payments, e-wallets, foreign exchange, and the issuance and transfer of digital tokens.
Legal experts see this as a defensive but forward-looking play. “Although recent regulatory developments from Beijing have put their stablecoin ambitions on ice, retaining IP rights ensures Ant can defend its brand,” said Joshua Chu, co-chair of the Hong Kong Web3 Association. He added that such trademarks are a “prudent and essential part of risk management” in an environment rife with copycat contracts and fraudulent token schemes.
The filings arrive just weeks after reports that Chinese regulators ordered major tech firms, including Ant Group, to suspend stablecoin-related operations in Hong Kong. Chu noted that Ant’s path forward hinges on how it addresses the regulatory concerns that stalled its previous ambitions.
Despite mainland pressure, Ant Group continues to explore blockchain-based financial infrastructure. In July, the company teamed up with Circle to pilot USDC cross-border payments through its Alipay+ network — marking one of the first integrations of a regulated stablecoin into a major Asian payment ecosystem. Then in September, its Ant Digital Technologies division launched a blockchain platform to tokenize energy assets, linking over $8 billion worth of Chinese infrastructure to on-chain systems.
While Ant Group’s full return to crypto remains uncertain, its recent trademark filings — particularly for “ANTCOIN” — hint at long-term ambitions to reestablish itself as a major player in the evolving virtual asset market.