Singapore Ranked World's Most Crypto-Friendly City: Regulatory Transparency and Institutional Infrastructure More Crucial
Singapore ranked first in the 2026 Global Crypto-Friendly City Index, ahead of traditional financial centers like London and New York. The Asia-Pacific region also performed strongly, occupying six of the top 10 spots, reflecting Asia's growing influence in attracting digital asset capital, entrepreneurs, and infrastructure.
The ranking, released by Multipolitan, a platform focused on cross-border flows, assesses global cities based 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 regimes, stablecoins and exchange-traded fund (ETF) frameworks, digital-native consumer groups, and more competitive tax environments.
Low Taxes No Longer the Only Factor: Regulation and Infrastructure More Critical
Multipolitan noted that low tax rates alone are no longer sufficient to sustain long-term crypto competitiveness. The best-performing cities typically combine transparent governance, reliable licensing pathways, institutional-grade infrastructure, and high daily usage.
The platform characterizes this model as "low tax, high credibility" and believes it distinguishes modern digital asset hubs from traditional financial centers. While the latter have mature financial systems, higher compliance complexity may limit innovation, capital formation, and ecosystem development.
The index also focused on already-deployed infrastructure, 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 index mentioned that the Monetary Authority of Singapore published a regulatory framework for issuing stablecoins locally in 2023. The framework is not yet formal law, but authorities have indicated legislative work will follow.
Multipolitan's index also showed that Hong Kong continues to consolidate its position through exchange licenses and institutional product expansion. Thailand is gradually building competitive advantages through regulatory sandboxes and tax exemptions. Dubai ranks high due to zero personal income tax and clearer regulatory infrastructure under the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
