Singapore Ranks First in Crypto-Friendly Cities: Regulatory Transparency and Infrastructure
Singapore tops the 2026 Global Crypto-Friendly City Index, beating traditional financial hubs like London and New York. The Asia-Pacific region also performed strongly, capturing six spots in the global top 10, reflecting Asia's rising influence in attracting digital asset capital, entrepreneurs, and infrastructure.
The ranking, released earlier this month by Multipolitan, a platform focused on cross-border flows, evaluated global cities on regulatory clarity, tax efficiency, institutional infrastructure, and real-world 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 entered the top 10. Multipolitan said this reflects the growing competitiveness of the Asia-Pacific region in digital assets, especially in licensing regimes, stablecoin and ETF frameworks, digital-native consumer bases, and more competitive tax environments.
Low Taxes Alone No Longer Enough: Regulation and Infrastructure Key
Multipolitan noted that low taxes alone are no longer sufficient to sustain long-term crypto competitiveness. The best-performing cities typically combine transparent governance, clear licensing pathways, institutional-grade infrastructure, and higher everyday use.
This model is described as 'low tax, high credibility', differentiating modern digital asset hubs from traditional financial centers. While the latter have mature systems, higher compliance complexity can limit 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 VASP ecosystem, and merchant/government payment integrations as key factors.
Multipolitan noted that the Monetary Authority of Singapore published a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuance in Singapore in 2023, which is not yet law but authorities have indicated legislative steps will follow.
The index also showed Hong Kong consolidating its position through exchange licensing and institutional product expansion. Thailand is building a competitive edge with regulatory sandboxes and tax exemptions. Dubai also ranked high due to zero personal income tax and clear regulatory infrastructure under the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
