Spot crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) launched on the Hong Kong stock market have sparked optimism among industry experts, who believe they could pave the way for a future influx of Chinese investors into the crypto market.

China Asset Management's CEO, Yimei Li, speaking to Bloomberg TV, stated that the launch of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs on Tuesday opens up opportunities for many RMB holders seeking alternative investments. Li, along with Harvest Global Investments and Bosera Asset Management, is one of the three ETF issuers that launched their crypto products on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on April 30.

Li expressed hope for a new opportunity for mainland Chinese investors to participate in these investments in the future as the opening up progresses. However, crypto trading remains banned in mainland China, limiting the new ETFs' availability to Hong Kong residents for now.

Harvest Global CEO Han Tongli noted that regulators would closely monitor the development of Hong Kong's new ETPs to manage risk. He believes that as long as regulators are comfortable with the risks, the market will gradually open up.

Samson Mow, CEO of Jan3 and a Bitcoin pioneer, predicted that ETFs in Hong Kong will be significant, with massive long-term implications. He highlighted that there are limited investment options for Chinese investors currently, making the new ETFs an attractive proposition.

However, mainland Chinese investors are currently not permitted to invest in Hong Kong's new ETFs, as confirmed by China Asset Management's Zhu Haokang in a press conference on April 29. The hope among fund issuers and investors is that this could be the beginning of a new wave of capital inflows from the mainland in the future.