SINGAPORE: Digital token service providers (DTSPs) scrambling to relocate their operations and staff ahead of new regulations taking effect on June 30 should have anticipated the changes and prepared accordingly, the Singapore authorities say.
In a June 6 clarification to a consultation paper setting out proposed regulations for the sector on May 30, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said DTSPs offering services solely to customers outside Singapore, whether involving digital payment tokens or tokenised capital market products, will need to be licensed from June 30 or stop their operations.
Digital payment tokens include cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, while tokenised capital market products are digital representations of securities such as stocks or bonds.
In its June 6 clarification, MAS also noted that it has set the bar high for licensing, and will generally not issue a licence to such providers.
MAS said service providers for digital payment tokens or tokens of capital market products that serve customers in Singapore are already regulated, and there will be no change to what these licensed providers can do.
It added that providers serving customers in Singapore may also offer services to overseas clients, while those dealing with other types of tokens, such as utility or governance tokens, are not subject to licensing or regulation under the new regime, and are therefore unaffected.
These clarifications follow MAS’ response to industry feedback in the May 30 paper, in which it noted that firms serving only overseas clients may be more vulnerable to money laundering and terrorism financing risks owing to the internet-based and cross-border nature of their services.
MAS added that the rationale for the new regulations is to better exercise oversight over money laundering risks and preserve Singapore’s reputation as a progressive and well-regulated hub for digital assets.
The move has nevertheless sparked concerns among some DTSPs, prompting them to rethink their presence in Singapore in favour of more lenient jurisdictions.
Bloomberg reported that the new regulations had caused confusion and job losses as firms rushed to comply, with some unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges considering exiting the Republic. Firms like Bitget and Bybit were cited as examples.
Meanwhile, industry sources said more than 500 staff – from management to junior levels across various firms supporting Singapore’s financial technology ecosystem – are likely relocating to the United Arab Emirates or Hong Kong, drawn by the softer regulatory stance on digital assets.
When asked to comment on the Bloomberg report, MAS said the new regulations should not come as a surprise, as its position has been consistently communicated to the industry from as early as 2022, and the regulations are not expected to affect a “significant number” of entities in Singapore. — The Straits Times/ANN
