Bitstamp Wins Singapore License in Tightening Crypto Regulatory Landscape

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Bitstamp has joined the exclusive list of crypto exchanges granted a license by Singapore’s Monetary Authority (MAS), marking a key milestone in its APAC expansion strategy.

The approval follows MAS’s June crackdown, which mandated that all offshore-serving crypto firms obtain a license or face penalties—a policy that left many companies scrambling. The regulator warned that approvals would be rare due to heightened money laundering risks.

Singapore’s strict yet innovation-friendly approach has made it a magnet for crypto firms, with MAS greenlighting twice as many licenses in 2024 as in 2023. However, despite the influx of businesses, retail crypto adoption in the city-state remains sluggish.

Bitstamp’s success contrasts with peers still navigating MAS’s high barriers, underscoring the competitive edge of regulatory compliance in Asia’s evolving digital asset market.