Singapore Tops Global Crypto-Friendly Cities Index: Transparency and Infrastructure Key

Singapore ranked first in the 2026 Global Crypto-Friendly Cities Index, ahead of traditional financial centers like London and New York. The Asia-Pacific region performed strongly, occupying six of the top 10 spots, reflecting Asia's growing influence in attracting digital asset capital, entrepreneurs and infrastructure.

The ranking, released earlier this month by Multipolitan, a platform focusing on cross-border flows, assessed factors including regulatory clarity, tax efficiency, institutional infrastructure and real adoption.

Multipolitan CEO Nirbhay Handa said Singapore's leading position reflects a deeper structural shift in global finance. Crypto competitiveness is increasingly driven not by speculation but by regulatory predictability, operational infrastructure and capital efficiency.

Asia-Pacific Cities Strengthen Collectively

Besides Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei also entered the global top 10. Multipolitan said this reflects the Asia-Pacific region's growing competitiveness in digital assets, particularly in licensing regimes, stablecoin and exchange-traded fund frameworks, digital-native consumer bases, and more competitive tax environments.

The platform summarized the trend as a 'low tax, high credibility' model, distinguishing modern digital asset hubs from traditional financial centers, which, despite mature financial systems, may face higher compliance complexity that stifles innovation, capital formation and ecosystem development.

Regulation and Infrastructure Matter More Than Low Taxes

Multipolitan noted that low taxes alone are no longer sufficient for long-term crypto competitiveness. The best-performing cities typically combine transparent governance, reliable licensing paths, institutional-grade infrastructure, and high levels of everyday usage.

The index 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 published a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuance in 2023, which is not yet law but is expected to be legislated.

The Multipolitan index also showed Hong Kong continuing to consolidate its position through exchange licenses and institutional product expansion, Thailand gaining competitive edge through regulatory sandboxes and tax exemptions, and Dubai ranking high due to zero personal income tax and a clearer regulatory infrastructure under its Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.