Singapore ranks world's friendliest city for crypto regulation
Singapore topped the 2026 Global Crypto Friendliest City Index, ahead of traditional financial hubs like London and New York. The Asia-Pacific region also performed strongly, securing six spots in the global top 10, reflecting Asia's rising influence in attracting digital asset capital, entrepreneurs, and infrastructure.
The index was released by Multipolitan, a platform specializing in cross-border flows, evaluating global cities on regulatory clarity, tax efficiency, institutional infrastructure, and actual adoption.
Multipolitan CEO Nirbhay Handa said: "Singapore's leading position reflects a deeper structural shift in global finance. Crypto competitiveness is increasingly determined not by speculation, but by regulatory predictability, operational infrastructure, and capital efficiency."
Besides Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Taipei also made the global top 10. Multipolitan believes this reflects the Asia-Pacific region's growing competitiveness in digital assets, particularly in licensing systems, stablecoin and exchange-traded fund (ETF) frameworks, digital-native consumer bases, and more competitive tax environments.
Low tax rates no longer the only factor: Regulation and infrastructure more critical
Multipolitan noted that low tax rates alone are insufficient to sustain long-term crypto competitiveness. The best-performing cities typically combine transparent governance, reliable licensing pathways, institutional-grade infrastructure, and high levels of daily usage.
The platform calls this the "low tax, high credibility" model, which it says differentiates modern digital asset hubs from traditional financial centers. The latter, despite mature financial systems, may have higher compliance complexity that limits innovation, capital formation, and ecosystem development.
The index also focuses on infrastructure already in place, not just policy announcements. Multipolitan cited Singapore's regulated stablecoin framework, Hong Kong's spot virtual asset ETFs, Dubai's licensed virtual asset service provider ecosystem, and merchant and government payment integration as key factors supporting city rankings.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuance in Singapore in 2023. The framework has not yet become formal law, but the authority indicated it will proceed with legislative work.
The Multipolitan index also shows: Hong Kong continues to consolidate its position through exchange licensing and institutional product expansion; Thailand is developing a competitive edge with regulatory sandboxes and tax exemptions; Dubai ranks high due to zero personal income tax and clearer regulatory infrastructure from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
