Singapore's Regulatory Transparency Leads Global Crypto-Friendly City Ranking
Singapore ranks first in the 2026 Global Crypto-Friendly City Index, surpassing traditional financial centers like London and New York. The Asia-Pacific region also performed strongly, with six cities in the global top 10, reflecting Asia's growing 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 based on regulatory clarity, tax efficiency, institutional infrastructure, and real adoption.
Nirbhay Handa, CEO of Multipolitan, said: "Singapore's leadership 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 global top 10. Multipolitan noted that this reflects the Asia-Pacific region's growing competitiveness in digital assets, especially in licensing regimes, stablecoin and ETF frameworks, digitally native consumer bases, and more competitive tax environments.
Low Taxes No Longer the Only Factor, Regulation and Infrastructure More Critical
Multipolitan pointed out that low tax rates alone are insufficient for long-term crypto competitiveness. The best-performing cities typically combine transparent governance, reliable licensing pathways, institutional-grade infrastructure, and high everyday use.
The platform summarized this as a "low tax, high credibility" model, distinguishing modern digital asset hubs from traditional financial centers. The latter, despite mature financial systems, may see innovation, capital formation, and ecosystem development constrained by higher compliance complexity.
Focus on Deployed Infrastructure: Stablecoins, ETFs, and Payment Integration
The index also focuses on already-deployed infrastructure, not just policy announcements. Multipolitan cited examples: Singapore's regulated stablecoin framework, Hong Kong's spot virtual asset ETFs, Dubai's licensed VASP ecosystem, and merchant and government payment integrations.
The platform noted that Singapore's Monetary Authority published a stablecoin regulatory framework for domestic issuance in 2023. While not yet formal law, the authority has indicated next steps in legislation.
Asia-Pacific Multiple Cities Reinforce Competitive Advantages: License Expansion, Regulatory Sandboxes, and Clearer Regulatory Infrastructure
Multipolitan noted that Hong Kong continues to consolidate its position through exchange licenses and institutional product expansion. Thailand is building competitive advantages through regulatory sandboxes and tax exemptions. Dubai ranks well due to zero personal income tax and clearer regulatory infrastructure under the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
