Cointime

Download App
iOS & Android

Singapore Ranks as Second-Best Crypto Hub in the World Due to Regulatory Structure and Digital Infrastructure

June 27 (Cointime) - Singapore has been ranked as the second-best crypto hub in the world due to its regulatory structure, digital infrastructure, and ease of doing business. Despite average scores for quality of life and per-capita crypto jobs, the city-state is home to some of the biggest brands in crypto, including Binance, Coinbase, and Crypto.com.

Singapore is also the most competitive fintech hub in the Asia Pacific region and a regulatory leader for crypto. While there have been setbacks with homegrown crypto companies, the diverse and varied cryptocurrency ecosystem in Singapore continues to attract talent from across the region. Gemini plans to increase its headcount in Singapore to over 100, as the company sees APAC as a driver of the next wave of growth for crypto.

Comments

All Comments

Recommended for you

  • Satoshi Act Fund Co-founder: Another "Bitcoin Strategic Reserve" bill will be launched next week

    Dennis Porter, co-founder and CEO of the Bitcoin advocacy organization Satoshi Act Fund, announced on X platform that the team will launch another "Bitcoin Strategic Reserve" bill next week.
  • Hong Kong's Stablecoin Bill is gazetted and is expected to be submitted to the Legislative Council for first reading on December 18

    On December 6th, according to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government News Bulletin, Hong Kong today published the "Stablecoin Regulation Bill" in the constitutional report to introduce a regulatory system for fiat currency stablecoin issuers in Hong Kong. The "Bill" aims to improve the regulatory framework for virtual asset activities to address the potential risks posed by fiat currency stablecoins to financial stability, ensure that users have sufficient protection, and leverage the benefits of virtual assets and related technologies. Under the proposed licensing system, anyone engaging in any of the following activities must first obtain a license from the Commissioner of Financial Management:
  • Trump: David Sacks will work to establish a legal framework for encryption to ensure that the encryption industry thrives in the United States

    Trump stated in his appointment letter to David Sacks that Sacks will be dedicated to establishing a legal framework that provides clarity to the cryptocurrency industry and enables it to flourish in the United States.
  • Australia’s financial regulator proposes new crypto rules, emphasizing risks and mitigation measures

     Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released a consultation paper suggesting updates to its regulatory guidelines for digital assets, with a focus on compliance requirements under the Corporations Act. The revisions to Information Sheet 225 (INFO 225) include 13 worked examples aimed at clarifying when digital assets qualify as financial products, such as stablecoins, packaged tokens, and staking services. In these examples, ASIC outlines scenarios involving exchange tokens, interest-bearing stablecoins, and tokenized assets such as concert tickets. The draft guidance proposes that classification depends on "inherent rights, interests, expectations, and product features that are offered together with the token." ASIC encourages cryptocurrency companies to apply for an Australian Financial Services License, providing them with a safe harbor from legal action.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin officially signs digital currency tax law

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law regulating the taxation of digital currencies. According to the law, digital currencies are recognized as property. This also applies to currencies used for foreign trade payments within the experimental legal framework (EPR) in the field of digital innovation. Mining and sales of digital currencies are exempt from value-added tax. Operators of mining infrastructure must report to the tax authorities issuing cryptocurrencies for using their services. Failure to submit such information on time may result in a fine of 40,000 rubles. In terms of personal income tax, digital currencies obtained through mining will be classified as physical income (usually used when goods or services are paid for instead of currency). The value of the income currency will be determined based on market quotes. Such income will be subject to progressive taxation, taking into account tax deductions for mining costs. At the same time, the acquisition, sale or other circulation of digital currencies will be subject to two-stage personal income tax rates (13% for income up to 2.4 million rubles, and 15% for income exceeding this amount). They will be included in the same tax base as securities, bank deposits, and other sources of transaction income. As for corporate income tax, digital currency mining will be subject to the standard tax rate (25% from 2025 onwards).
  • Taiwan forces cryptocurrency providers to register for anti-money laundering

    after authorities imposed fines on two cryptocurrency exchanges for related violations, Taiwan, China has advanced new anti-money laundering (AML) regulations for cryptocurrency businesses. On November 27, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) announced that the upcoming registration requirements for anti-money laundering for cryptocurrency exchanges would be postponed from the previous deadline of January 1, 2025 to November 30. According to previous notices, virtual asset service providers (VASPs) that have not registered with the government may face up to two years imprisonment or a maximum fine of NT$5 million (US$155,900).
  • Supreme People's Procuratorate: Enhance the ability to combat money laundering crimes using new technologies and products such as virtual currency

    newly revised "Anti-Money Laundering Law of the People's Republic of China" will come into effect on January 1, 2025. The Secretary of the Party Group and Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ying Yong, emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation to combat money laundering crimes, accurately grasp the provisions of the revised anti-money laundering law on improving the scope of upstream money laundering crimes, and implement the anti-money laundering law and the criminal law's provisions on "money laundering" in a comprehensive manner. Accurately apply the "Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Money Laundering," deepen the three-year action to combat and govern illegal money laundering crimes, punish money laundering and related crimes in accordance with the law, enhance the ability to combat money laundering crimes using new technologies, products, and businesses such as virtual currencies, and form a joint force to combat money laundering.
  • Gemini to Pay $50 Million to Gemini Earn Investors, Reaches Settlement with New York Attorney General’s Office

    According to Bloomberg, cryptocurrency exchange Gemini has reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General's Office over a fraud lawsuit, agreeing to pay $50 million worth of digital assets to Gemini Earn investors. As part of the settlement agreement, Gemini Earn is also prohibited from operating in the state. Gemini said in a statement on Friday that the final distribution of proceeds will arrive in customer accounts within seven days.Previously, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Gemini in October last year, accusing the platform of misleading investors in the Gemini Earn project, resulting in losses of over $1 billion.
  • MAS: Singapore is working on global first-tier fund tokenization regulation

    Chia Der Jiun, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, introduced some fund tokenization pilots at an event for asset managers. These pilots are part of the Project Guardian and MAS Global Layer 1 (GL1) tokenization plans. Chia Der Jiun emphasized the advantages of tokenization in real-time settlement and process automation, which can improve efficiency and achieve greater customization of funds. UK asset management company Schroders and fund distribution platform Calastone are exploring this as part of the Project Guardian public blockchain trial in Singapore. A recent survey by Calastone showed that 96% of asset management companies in the Asia-Pacific region plan to launch tokenized products within three years. Chia stated that as these Project Guardian pilot projects approach commercialization, MAS is working with the pilot project managers to study the legal and regulatory treatment and impact of tokenized investment funds."
  • Singapore issued a budget statement for fiscal year 2024, planning to allocate S$2 billion to strengthen the digital economy

    Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat presented the country's budget statement for the fiscal year 2024 in February. The budget proposes an allocation of 2 billion Singapore dollars to strengthen its digital economy, marking Singapore's strong push for financial innovation and integration of digital assets, sending a clear signal of incorporating digital assets into its economic framework.