Singapore Achieves Peak Crypto Awareness Despite Declining Investment Participation
Crypto awareness in Singapore reached an all-time high of 94% in 2025, but actual ownership declined from 40% to 29%, according to Cointelegraph. Independent Reserve's fifth annual Singapore Crypto Market Survey, conducted in February with 1,500 participants, revealed this paradox between knowledge and participation. The survey showed men remain more active investors at 35% compared to women at 24%. Millennials and Gen X aged 25-54 comprise 71% of all crypto holders.
Bitcoin dominates awareness with 91% recognition among Singaporeans. Ethereum follows at 54%, while Dogecoin reaches 41% awareness. The survey found 68% of crypto investors hold Bitcoin, with 23% believing it will surpass $250,000 by 2030. Stablecoins gained traction with 46% of investors holding them primarily for trading and DeFi activities.
Singapore Maintains Crypto Hub Status Through Regulatory Leadership
Singapore cemented its position as a global blockchain hub through comprehensive regulatory frameworks. Sumsub reports the Monetary Authority of Singapore authorized 19 cryptocurrency service providers as of January 2025. The MAS issued 13 major payment institution licenses to crypto exchanges in 2024, more than doubling the 2023 count.
ApeX Protocol research shows Singapore leads globally with 1,600 blockchain patents, 2,433 crypto-related jobs, and 81 active cryptocurrency exchanges. Hong Kong ranked second with 890 blockchain patents and 52 crypto exchanges. The city-state's Payment Services Act provides clear regulatory guidelines that balance innovation with consumer protection.
The regulatory momentum continued with new stablecoin frameworks announced in 2023. MAS finalized requirements for single-currency stablecoins pegged to Singapore Dollar or G10 currencies. Only compliant issuers can label tokens as "MAS-regulated stablecoins," providing clear identification for users.
Market Sentiment Shifts Toward Conservative Investment Strategies
Despite declining ownership, crypto sentiment remains positive among current holders. Over half (53%) plan to increase positions within 12 months, while 17% of non-holders expressed market entry interest. CryptoNews notes many Singaporeans reallocated toward traditional investments, with cash savings rising to 49% in 2025 from 42% in 2024.
Mark Wong from Independent Reserve explained the BTC/SGD pair dropped 19.3% from S$143,000 in January to mid-April. Investors shifted toward "high-quality assets" maintaining resilience during volatile conditions. The survey revealed 28% of crypto investors hold memecoins, with 43% aware of at least one memecoin.
Women demonstrated stronger investment performance than men, with 76% reporting profits or breaking even compared to 72% of male investors. This marked the first time female investors outperformed male counterparts since the survey's 2021 launch. Additionally, 24% of women allocated over 20% of portfolios to crypto assets.
Global Context Shows Broader Crypto Adoption Trends
Singapore's crypto trends align with global developments in institutional adoption and stablecoin growth. CoinDesk reports stablecoin market capitalization surpassed $200 billion in March 2025, with USDC nearing $60 billion after gaining $25 billion since the US election.
Bitcoin ETF developments continue reshaping institutional participation. ETF Trends shows 43 crypto ETF launches occurred in 2024, representing over half the 75 US crypto ETFs universe. BlackRock's IBIT recorded 145% year-to-date performance, becoming the best-performing ETF excluding leveraged products.
Consensys global survey data indicates 93% worldwide crypto awareness, up from 92% in 2023. Nigeria leads wallet ownership at 84%, while Singapore's 29% ownership rate reflects more conservative institutional market approaches compared to emerging economies.
The cryptocurrency market faces increasing regulatory clarity worldwide. Chambers notes Singapore's technology-neutral approach focuses on asset characteristics rather than underlying technology. This balanced regulation attracts financial institutions while protecting retail investors through comprehensive compliance requirements.
Related Reading on BTC Peers
Explore the Global Bitcoin Policy Index (GBPI) to understand how different countries rank in their Bitcoin policy frameworks. This comprehensive index evaluates regulatory environments, adoption rates, and policy developments across major economies. Readers will gain insights into comparative Bitcoin regulations, policy trends, and how Singapore's approach measures against global standards. The analysis provides valuable context for investors and policymakers tracking international Bitcoin policy evolution.
