MAS Singapore Mulling New Rules to Curb Retail Crypto Speculation

The regulators of Singapore are working hard to structure a set of rules to curb speculative trading among giant investors.

As per the Singaporean Central Bank, the Singapore-based Monetary Authorities, offering digital payment tokens will not be allowed to provide rewards for usual traders trading cryptocurrencies or offer loans, margin trading, or leveraged transactions.

The regulators are preparing to enforce these regulations in 2024; these rules will apply to all investors and cover all incentives, such as referrals and learning programs. 

Singapore has evolved as a crypto hub over the past few years and holds a respected position in the crypto industry. Singapore’s monetary regulators have significantly introduced key measures in driving crypto rules and regulations. 

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) introduced crucial measures for stablecoins issuers operating in the nation. The MAS aims to transform Singapore into a hub for the rapidly growing crypto industry. 

However, according to Ho Hern Shin, MAS’s Deputy Managing Director for Financial Supervision, even the suggested safeguards must be revised to protect users from the inherent speculation and high risk in cryptocurrency trading. He emphasized the need to avoid interacting with unregulated businesses, even abroad.

Following the collapse of the Three Arrows Capital hedge fund, Singapore is looking to restrict its exposure to digital asset speculation. Previous proposals to limit retail participation have suggested banning lending and staking activities.

Who is Crypto Hub Singapore or Hong- Kong? 

Following a crackdown on corporations in the United States, according to industry leaders, Asia’s financial centers, Hong Kong and Singapore, are well-positioned to emerge as new centers of the global cryptocurrency system. 

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has imposed fines and other penalties on several crypto-lending companies. At the same time, bank authorities have published policy pronouncements that make it difficult for crypto companies to obtain credit.

Compared to the rest of the world, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is growing fast in terms of crypto adoption and amending infrastructure development. Given Singapore’s proactive approach towards Web3 technology, the city-state has become the priority for many companies in the industry.

Singapore’s approach strikes a perfect balance between nurturing the development of cutting-edge blockchain and crypto technologies and ensuring a robust regulatory framework to mitigate risks, ultimately creating a well-rounded and sustainable ecosystem in the crypto industry.

This strategic balance is reflected in its emergence as an appealing market for companies seeking expansion and growth opportunities. 

With a background in journalism, Ritika Sharma has worked with many reputed media firms focusing on general news such as politics and crime. She joined The Coin Republic as a reporter for crypto, and found a great passion for cryptocurrency, Web3, NFTs and other digital assets. She spends a lot of time researching and delving deeper into these concepts round the clock, and is a strong advocate for women in STEM.