Reliable Infrastructure and Transparent Regulation Put Singapore Top of the Crypto-Friendly Cities Ranking

Singapore ranked first in the 2026 Global Crypto-Friendly Cities Index, ahead of traditional financial centers such as London and New York. The Asia-Pacific region also performed strongly, taking six of the top 10 spots globally, showing that Asia’s pull for digital asset capital, entrepreneurs and infrastructure continues to rise.

The index, released earlier this month by Multipolitan, a platform focused on cross-border flows, assessed cities worldwide based on regulatory clarity, tax efficiency, institutional infrastructure and real-world adoption.

Multipolitan CEO Nirbhay Handa said: “Singapore’s leadership reflects a deeper structural shift in global finance. Crypto competitiveness is increasingly being determined not by speculation, but by regulatory predictability, operating infrastructure and capital efficiency.”

Alongside Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei also entered the global top 10. Multipolitan said this reflects the growing competitiveness of Asia-Pacific in digital assets, especially in licensing regimes, stablecoin and exchange-traded fund (ETF) frameworks, digital-native consumer bases and more competitive tax environments.

Low Taxes Are No Longer the Only Factor; Regulation and Infrastructure Matter More

Multipolitan said low tax rates alone are no longer enough to sustain long-term crypto competitiveness. The best-performing cities typically combine transparent governance, a reliable path to licensing, institutional-grade infrastructure and high day-to-day usage.

The platform calls this the “low-tax, high-trust” model and says it sets modern digital asset hubs apart from traditional financial centers. The latter may have mature financial systems, but higher compliance complexity can limit innovation, capital formation and ecosystem growth.

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 virtual asset service provider ecosystem, and merchant and government payment integration as important factors supporting city rankings.

It noted that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced in 2023 a regulatory framework for stablecoins issued in Singapore. The framework has not yet become formal law, but the authority has said legislation will follow.

The Multipolitan index also showed Hong Kong strengthening its position through exchange licensing and institutional product expansion. Thailand is building a competitive edge through regulatory sandboxes and tax exemptions. Dubai also ranked highly thanks to zero personal income tax and a clearer regulatory infrastructure under the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.