Singapore Tops Global Crypto-Friendly City Rankings; Regulation and Infrastructure Key
Singapore has 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, with six cities in the global top 10, reflecting Asia's growing influence in attracting digital asset capital, entrepreneurs, and infrastructure.
The ranking, released earlier this month by Multipolitan, a platform focused on cross-border flows, assessed cities based on regulatory clarity, tax efficiency, institutional infrastructure, and real adoption.
Multipolitan CEO Nirbhay Handa said: "Singapore's leadership 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."
Low Tax Not the Only Factor; Regulation and Infrastructure Key
In addition to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Taipei also entered the global top 10. Multipolitan noted that this reflects the Asia-Pacific region's growing competitiveness in digital assets, especially in licensing regimes, stablecoin and ETF frameworks, digital-native consumer base, and more competitive tax environments.
Multipolitan pointed out that low tax rates alone are no longer enough to sustain long-term crypto competitiveness. The best-performing cities typically combine transparent governance, reliable licensing pathways, institutional-grade infrastructure, and high daily usage.
Multipolitan describes this as a "low tax, high trust" model, which distinguishes modern digital asset hubs from traditional financial centers. While the latter have mature financial systems, higher compliance complexity may constrain innovation, capital formation, and ecosystem development.
The index also focuses on infrastructure already in place, not 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 Monetary Authority of Singapore announced a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuance locally in 2023, which has not yet become formal law. However, authorities have indicated they will proceed with legislation.
Multipolitan's index also shows that Hong Kong continues to consolidate its position through exchange licensing and institutional product expansion. Thailand is gaining competitive advantage through regulatory sandboxes and tax exemptions. Dubai also ranks highly due to zero personal income tax and clearer regulatory infrastructure under the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
