The Monetary Authority of Singapore recently opened its doors to crypto by introducing the Payment Services Act. This policy is intended to regulate cryptocurrency payments and trading using regulations that currently govern traditional fiat payment services as a guideline. Any interested parties must apply for the appropriate licenses in Singapore, including a standard payment institution license, a money-changing license, and a major payment institution license.
According to a Feb. 17 Bloomberg report, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges has done just that. Binance, with headquarters in Malta but also offices in cities across Asia, is attempting to expand its user base while staying regulatory compliant. Changpeng Zhao, Binance CEO, commented on the expediency of the process:
“We submitted the application pretty fast. Binance’s Singapore entity has been in close touch with the local regulators, and they have always been open-minded.”
Other Crypto Exchanges Planning to Expand into Singapore
As cryptocurrency exchanges expand into new markets, local governments are still attempting to decide how to regulate them. The Payment Services Act is the first such legislation for Singapore, regulating crypto trading and digital payments.
Binance isn’t the only one to see the potential of Singapore’s new regulations. Crypto exchange operators Luno, based in London, and Liquid out of Tokyo have also expressed their intention of applying.
Joseph Spezzano received a Masters Degree in computer science from The University of Massachusetts. Joseph has been working as a full-time blockchain programmer for the past 5 years. In his spare time, Joseph enjoys writing for CryptocurrencyInvestments.com and traveling.