Singapore Leads Global Crypto-Friendly Cities with Transparent Regulation and Infrastructure
Singapore has been ranked first in the 2026 Global 'Crypto-Friendly City Index', ahead of traditional financial hubs like London and New York. The Asia-Pacific region also performed strongly, occupying six of the top 10 spots, reflecting the region's growing influence in attracting digital asset capital, entrepreneurs, and infrastructure.
The ranking, released earlier this month by cross-border flow research platform Multipolitan, evaluated 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 entered the top 10. Multipolitan believes this reflects Asia-Pacific's growing competitiveness in the digital asset space, particularly in licensing systems, stablecoin and ETF frameworks, digital-native consumer groups, and more competitive tax environments.
Low Taxes Alone Are No Longer Enough; Regulation and Infrastructure Are Key
Multipolitan noted that low tax rates alone are insufficient 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 calls this model 'low tax, high credibility', differentiating modern digital asset hubs from traditional financial centers, where high compliance complexity may limit innovation, capital formation, and ecosystem development.
The index also focuses on infrastructure that is already in place, rather than just policy announcements. Multipolitan cited Singapore's regulated stablecoin framework, Hong Kong's spot virtual asset ETFs, Dubai's licensed VASP ecosystem, and merchant and government payment integration as key factors supporting city rankings.
The index also noted that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) unveiled a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuance in 2023, which has not yet become formal law, but the authority has indicated legislative work will follow.
Multipolitan's index shows that Hong Kong continues to strengthen its position through exchange licensing and institutional product expansion; Thailand is building a competitive edge through regulatory sandboxes and tax exemptions; and Dubai ranks high due to zero personal income tax and a clearer regulatory infrastructure under the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.