Barclays has maintained an Overweight rating on Futu Holdings Limited whilst reducing its price target from $236 to $200. The Hong Kong-based fintech company added approximately 230,000 new paying clients in the fourth quarter, with management projecting around 800,000 additional paying clients for 2026. Futu reported strong fourth-quarter results on 12 March, with revenue rising 45.3% year-over-year to HK$6.44 billion. Net income climbed 80.2% to HK$3.37 billion, driven by higher trading volumes and increased interest income from securities lending and margin financing. For the full year 2025, revenues increased 68.1% to HK$22.85 billion, whilst net income more than doubled to HK$11.30 billion. The company operates the Futubull and moomoo digital brokerage platforms.

Futu Holdings is actively developing its cryptocurrency and Web3 trading capabilities, according to managing director Steve Zeng. The brokerage firm says it is no longer simply a "passenger" in the digital asset space. The company is working to provide Hong Kong users with access to stablecoins through its virtual asset platform PantherTrade. Zeng indicated that market expansion remains a key priority for the firm as it integrates cryptocurrency services into its broader offerings. The move reflects Futu's strategic shift towards a more proactive role in the digital asset trading sector.

Futu's PantherTrade launches full-scale licensed operations in Hong Kong. The platform integrates with Futu Securities, enabling dual-track trading for traditional and digital assets under a regulated framework Get the hottest Fintech Hong Kong News once a month in your Inbox Futu has announced that its wholly-owned virtual asset trading platform, PantherTrade, has begun full-scale licensed operations. PantherTrade will integrate with Futu Securities, the Group's retail brokerage platform in Hong Kong, providing trade matching, custody, and technical infrastructure. This integration enables dual-track operations for traditional finance and virtual assets within a regulated framework. PantherTrade is the first brokerage-incubated virtual asset trading platform in Hong Kong to obtain full-scale operational authorisation. The platform's licensed status allows Futu to offer both securities brokerage and virtual asset exchange services, creating a combined financial infrastructure for trading and related services. The Group intends to leverage Hong Kong's regulatory environment for Web3 development while maintaining compliance as a central principle. Through the Futubull app, investors can manage stock and virtual asset allocations on a single platform. PantherTrade will support high-net-worth clients with customised services. These include OTC block trading and tailored virtual asset products. The platform enables centralised management and risk control across assets. The platform also provides a one-stop solution for virtual asset ETF issuers. This covers the full product lifecycle, from issuance to custody and staking. Futu has previously partnered with China Asset Management (Hong Kong) to launch tokenised money market funds on Futubull. It also completed a proof-of-concept under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's (HKMA) Project Ensemble Sandbox. PantherTrade is engaging regulators on launching a compliant tokenised money market fund with 24/7 secondary trading and plans to expand tokenised securities and on-chain investment products. Futu will introduce securities-backed margin trading for virtual assets, allowing clients to leverage existing holdings for market exposure. Under regulatory guidance, the Group is exploring integrating virtual asset holdings into a unified collateral framework to enhance cross-asset liquidity and capital efficiency. Steve Zeng, Managing Director of Futu Group, said: "With the integration of our virtual asset platform and brokerage services, Futu aims to bridge traditional and digital finance, offering cross-asset allocation while maintaining compliance and security. This approach supports Hong Kong's development as a Web3 hub and provides investors with diversified, forward-looking investment options."