The Impact of Singapore’s Crypto Exchanges on Traditional Finance Markets
Introduction
Singapore’s prominence as a key player in the international crypto market is progressively rising. With this in mind, the best crypto exchange in Singapore keeps maximizing the burgeoning interest in cryptocurrencies both domestically and overseas. As a result of its burgeoning influence, Singapore’s crypto exchanges are disrupting regular finance markets by enabling crypt traders to make faster and safer transactions.
Another beauty of these exchanges is that they have broadly started utilizing blockchain technology by giving users access to wide-ranging digital assets and services. Plus, they continue to add innovation to fintech by offering innovative ways for individuals and businesses to transact safely and effectively. This prompts gripping the attention of investors and entrepreneurs mightily as Singapore’s crypto exchanges continue to win spurs in the technological innovations in the financial sector.
Increased Access to Digital Asset
Although the cryptocurrency markets had a relatively bad year in terms of value, it’s understandable for retail and institutional investors. A lot of institutional investors, who account for a major percentage of the market, were waiting for a better year to enter. However, some retail investors wanted to take their chance at entering the markets this previous year — and they would have done so had international exchanges not been closed.
Singapore’s cryptocurrency exchange has seen more and more demand from both retail and institutional investors in the last few months, with an expansion of its crypto-to-crypto trading services. These crypto exchanges now provide greater access to cryptocurrencies by allowing customers to trade on any cryptocurrency they want with S$3 fixed fees per transaction. This excellent move will attract more retail and institutional investment into the country’s previously untapped crypto market.
Crypto-to-crypto trading services allow retail and institutional investors to open a wide range of investment opportunities in crypto markets without first converting their capital into fiat. This further brings greater liquidity, stability, and value to the cryptocurrency market.
Regulatory Environment
The regulatory environment in Singapore has created an interesting situation. Speculation (as opposed to trading) in digital assets is prohibited by law, but trading platforms can operate as long as they abide by certain regulations.
Singapore has recently started considering virtual currencies, for example, BTC, ETH, etc., the same as tangible currency and not similar to virtual commodities at all. That said, cryptocurrencies in Singapore are today viewed as fiat currencies. In this reference, the term “cryptocurrencies” refer to the decentralized means of exchange (for example, BTC), which are neither issued nor vouched by a central bank or government.
Several international ‘fintech’ companies are now considering Asia to expand their business, with Singapore no exception. While this innovative regulation may seem like an obstruction to some in business, smarter companies have now started maximizing it and proactively searching for great solutions to iron out various issues they face.
When looking at these regulations regarding trust, it is important to realize that MAS encourages entrepreneurship and innovation in this new emerging space while protecting users from fraud or speculation.
To foster innovation, Singapore regulators have exempted from regulations digital tokens which are not securities or ‘products regulated by MAS.’ This exemption has created a competitive market for cryptocurrencies.
Integration with Traditional Finance
The rise of the cryptocurrency market has brought forth disruptive innovations, with many individuals and corporations involved in cryptocurrency trading and ICOs (Initial Coin Offering) having made large profits. In addition, the potential for such developments to impact traditional finance markets is huge. Therefore, it is important now more than ever that Singaporean authorities understand how to manage this revolution to protect institutional investors.
Singapore’s crypto exchanges today are very instrumental in integrating traditional financial markets with cryptocurrencies out there. These exchanges bridge the gap between regular finance and evolving blockchain-based solutions by entering into partnerships with banks and financial institutions.
Singapore is currently being viewed as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction, and recent statements by central bank officials suggest that cryptocurrency regulations would be “light” to keep “innovation flowing.” This has led to increased adoption by local financial institutions, including banks and wholesale finance companies (WfFCs), which have been signing licenses to issue exchange tokens like Deutsche Boerse AG and CSD Securities Pte Ltd. or buying up from ICOs. In some cases, these collaborations have raised regulatory issues such as KYC/AML requirements.
Market Volatility
While it is known to almost every crypto savvy that these digital assets are rife with volatility, and when there is an appreciation of volatility, it comes with enhanced liquidity and trading volume, which sparks the interest of increasing investors to enter crypto trading. Therefore, when there is an appreciation in the price volatility, investors tend to invest in traditional currencies. On the other hand, when there is depreciation in the value of cryptocurrencies and no variation in the trading volumes, investors feel more confident to make new investments without intruding on their existing holdings. Therefore, considering the general state of things, the odds for traders to consider other investment options and that traditional finance will not benefit are very high. In any case, as reported by several experts, the market will continue to thrive in the distant future too.
It monitors client assets for a crypto exchange Singapore to remain solvent and prevent investor losses. It applies risk management strategies such as monitoring price stability using margin funds, balancing security with quick turnaround times, supporting customer withdrawal requests, and developing risk management processes per statutory requirements or other guidelines given by regulatory authorities. Crypto exchanges in Singapore are taking these steps to ensure clients have assets secured well into the future.
Challenges and Future Outlook
While the existing banking system in Singapore is more centralized than ever before, there are various critical challenges that crypto exchanges in the country face. Below, we discuss two critical challenges that even the best crypto exchanges in Singapore face:
- Cybersecurity threats:
Cybersecurity threats are seemingly among the most critical challenges cryptocurrency exchanges face. The reason why these threats are shooting up abruptly is because of the increasing number of hackers who are highly active in such critical operations. Putting it simply, these hackers typically launch an attack on cryptocurrency exchange Singapore platforms through phishing campaigns and specious websites and get access to users’ credentials and personal data illegally.
- Regulatory uncertainty:
Cryptocurrency exchanges in Singapore are thriving fast, but it is a must for them to be in line with various regulatory frameworks. Since crypto exchanges in the country currently do not have any regulatory approval, which issues a critical challenge for them to operate effectively. In the wake of this issue, crypto exchanges in Singapore fail to gain cachet and power and give a boost to their services.
Despite the various challenges crypto exchanges in Singapore face, it seems the demand for cryptocurrencies across the country does not go down. The reason is simple: these best crypto exchanges in Singapore offer investors a surefire alternative to conventional financial markets. Putting it simply, they allow investors to enter the financial markets without going through the need to invest in a physical stock when it involves traditional stocks or real estate.
Conclusion
In recent years, the best crypto exchange Singapore platforms have assumed a very special position in the international world of finance. This phenomenon can largely be attributed to Singapore, today recognized as the second most prominent hub for crypto trading in Asia for trading BTC and ETH, the two most popular crypto assets in the world.
As reported by several credible sources, cryptocurrency trading in Singapore only goes one way: up. It will get bigger, and its impact on traditional finance markets will still be greater.
The need for cryptocurrency technology in the finance sector is very high. Singapore’s financial institutions have been moving quickly in response to these trends, seeing the advantages of new technologies and the opportunities from adopting them.
Victoria has recently joined our team as a content officer. She has written a number of news articles in a different niche such as Stock market, Emerging technologies, Economics, and various analysis. She has 10+ years of experience in writing and has interviewed multiple personalities of various backgrounds. She also loves to write books on personal finance.