Source hierarchy
Crypto in Hong Kong changes fast and the internet is full of stale lists. So we rank sources and always use the highest one available.
- Regulators and governmentThe SFC's VATP lists, the HKMA stablecoin register, Legislative Council papers, government press releases, IRD guidance and the text of the ordinances on e-Legislation.
- Operators' own pagesFee schedules, FAQs, terms and location lists published by the platform, ATM operator or shop itself. These are self-reported, so we say "the operator lists" rather than "we confirmed".
- Reputable pressRTHK, SCMP, HKFP, HK01, Ming Pao, Wen Wei Po, CoinDesk and similar, cited with dates — mostly for incidents, enforcement and market figures.
- Aggregators and user reportsCoin ATM Radar, directories, forums and social posts. Used only to find leads or when nothing better exists, and always labelled.
Labels you will see
Every ATM, shop or office card carries a source tag. "Operator-listed" means the business lists the location itself. "Aggregator data" means it comes from a third-party map such as Coin ATM Radar, which blocks automated access and may lag. "Press report" means a news article is our source. "User-reported" means social media or forum posts. When figures conflict — CoinHero's locator and a press release, for instance — we show both and explain the gap.
| Claim type | Minimum source | How we phrase it |
|---|---|---|
| Licence status | SFC / HKMA register | "Licensed by the SFC since…" |
| Fees and limits | Operator fee page or FAQ | "CoinHero's FAQ lists…" |
| Locations | Operator location list | "Operator-listed" tag + check date |
| Market counts | Named tracker or government paper | "About 223, per Coin ATM Radar as quoted by…" |
| Incidents | Dated press report | Date, place, outcome — no speculation |
How we score reviews
Review scores out of 10 weigh, in order: regulatory status and investor protection; the cost of a typical HK$10,000 purchase including spreads; HKD funding and withdrawal rails; custody and whether you can withdraw coins; product range for retail clients; and support and transparency. A platform cannot score highly on convenience alone if it offers no Hong Kong protection, and a machine cannot score highly if a large share of your money disappears in fees.
Updates and corrections
Every page shows the month its data was last checked. We re-check the SFC lists, the HKMA register and the major operators' fee pages monthly, and ATM locations whenever an operator changes its map. Corrections are welcome at the address on our contact page; material corrections are noted on the page. Primary sources we rely on most: SFC, HKMA, FSTB, GovHK press releases, Hong Kong e-Legislation.
Compare the options we checked
Operating since 2013 · Card & Apple Pay · Registered in the US, Gibraltar and Spain · Why this pick?