Singapore transparent crypto regulation, reliable infrastructure tops global friendly cities
Singapore ranked first globally in the 2026 Most Crypto-Friendly Cities Index, ahead of traditional financial centers like London and New York. The Asia-Pacific region also performed strongly, capturing six of the top 10 spots, reflecting Asia's growing influence in attracting digital asset capital, entrepreneurs, and infrastructure.
The ranking was released earlier this month by Multipolitan, a platform specializing in cross-border flows research, evaluating cities 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 attributed this to the region's growing competitiveness in digital assets, particularly in licensing regimes, stablecoin and exchange-traded fund (ETF) frameworks, digital-native consumer bases, and more competitive tax environments.
Low taxes not enough; regulation and infrastructure more critical
Multipolitan noted that low tax rates alone are no longer sufficient to sustain long-term crypto competitiveness. Top-performing cities typically also feature transparent governance, reliable licensing paths, institutional-grade infrastructure, and high daily usage.
The platform called this model 'low tax, high credibility,' distinguishing modern digital asset hubs from traditional financial centers that, despite mature financial systems, may limit innovation, capital formation, and ecosystem development due to higher compliance complexity.
Emphasis on deployed infrastructure
The index focused on already-deployed infrastructure rather than just policy announcements. Multipolitan cited Singapore's regulated stablecoin framework, Hong Kong's spot virtual asset ETF, Dubai's licensed virtual asset service provider ecosystem, and merchant and government payment integration as key supporting factors.
Regarding Singapore, the article noted the Monetary Authority of Singapore's 2023 regulatory framework for issuing stablecoins locally, which is not yet law but with legislation underway.
For other cities, Multipolitan said Hong Kong continues to solidify its position through exchange licenses and institutional product expansion; Thailand is gaining competitive advantage 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.
