Buying Stock Tokens by Region: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia
Which stock token venues you can use depends on where you live. The two layers of restrictions, what users in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia should check, and how to use our region filter.
Where you live changes which venues you can use for stock tokens and which rules apply. This guide covers what users in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia should check before choosing a venue, and how to use our region filter to rule out venues quickly.
Two separate questions: does the venue serve you, and does local law allow it
Whether you can buy depends on two layers:
- The venue's terms: exchanges list the regions they do not serve. Even if sign-up works, identity verification will reject users from restricted regions based on ID and residence.
- Local rules: some places have specific rules on crypto trading, securities-like products or offshore platforms. A venue not banning your region does not mean local law permits it.
The regional terms on our venue pages cover only the first layer: which regions each venue's terms restrict. For the second, follow your local regulator's current rules.
Mainland China
Under rules issued by the People's Bank of China and other agencies, virtual currency business activities are illegal financial activities in mainland China, and offshore exchanges serving mainland residents online are not permitted. Most large exchanges also list mainland China as a region they do not serve.
We do not provide ways around these restrictions. Mainland investors interested in US stocks can look at compliant routes such as QDII funds or products from licensed brokers.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong licenses virtual asset trading platforms, and licensed platforms serving retail users have defined product scopes. Some offshore exchanges list Hong Kong as restricted or offer Hong Kong users only some products; stock tokens and leveraged contracts are often among the restricted ones.
Before choosing a venue, check its status for Hong Kong on our venue page, then read the venue's own product terms.
Taiwan
Taiwan requires virtual asset service providers operating locally to register and continues to update its rules. Offshore venues vary in what they offer Taiwan users; the same venue may offer spot but not derivatives.
Southeast Asia
Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines each have their own, fast-changing rules: some require a local license to serve residents, others add limits on derivatives and leverage. Many exchanges restrict some of these countries or direct users to a locally licensed affiliate.
Use our region filter to rule out venues
- Choose your region under "Region" at the top of the page.
- On any stock page, tick "Hide venues that may not be available in my region" to keep only venues whose terms do not restrict your region.
- Open a venue's page to see the link to its terms and when we last checked them.
Regional status is compiled from public terms, and we check the terms pages weekly for changes, but venues can change them at any time. Check the latest terms before signing up.
Do on-chain tokens avoid regional limits?
Swapping tokens such as xStocks on Solana needs no exchange account, so there is no technical regional gate. But token issuers' terms usually restrict residents of some regions too, and local law still applies. For steps and how to avoid fakes, see How to buy stock tokens on Solana.
Summary
- Check local rules first, then the venue's terms; only consider signing up if both allow it.
- Use our region filter to rule out venues whose terms restrict you.
- Terms and rules change; rely on the latest notices from venues and regulators for important decisions.