Coinbase’s Crypto Play in Singapore 🤝💸

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Key Highlights

  • Coinbase Business, that paragon of modern financial innovation, has set up shop in Singapore, offering startups and SMEs the chance to trade digital gold and settle transactions in USDC and XSGD, which are as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane.
  • In a move that would make even the most jaded banker blush, Coinbase has partnered with Standard Chartered to enable real-time SGD transfers between wallets and accounts, a feat that might make your grandmother’s savings account feel like a high-stakes poker game.
  • Operating under the auspices of the MAS Major Payment Institution (MPI) license, Coinbase’s new venture focuses on cross-border and stablecoin payments, a domain where even the most seasoned financial wizards might find themselves lost in a sea of regulations.

The venerable cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, ever the pioneer, has launched its Business division in Singapore, a city-state that has long been a magnet for the daring and the desperate. One might wonder if this is a bold step or a desperate gamble, but only time will tell.

This service, marketed as an “all-in-one crypto operating platform,” is designed for startups and SMBs, enabling them to trade cryptocurrencies and make digital payments, a proposition that sounds as enticing as a magician’s promise of eternal youth. Yet, as with all things in life, there are strings attached.

Bank partnership for real-time payments

Coinbase has formed an alliance with Standard Chartered to support real-time transfers in Singapore dollars, a move that promises to revolutionize the way businesses and individuals move their money, though one might wonder if the real revolution is in the speed or the complexity.

The service is now open for early access applications from eligible firms registered in Singapore, a process that, according to Coinbase’s official announcement, is as straightforward as solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. Or perhaps not.

Coinbase Business has officially landed in Singapore! 🇸🇬

We’re thrilled to launch the first international expansion of our all-in-one financial platform right here in Asia’s digital hub.

More details ↓

– Coinbase Singapore 🛡️ (@CoinbaseSG) November 12, 2025

Regulatory license under the MAS

Running under a Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Coinbase is allowed to offer Digital Payment Token (DPT) and cross-border money transfer services, a privilege that comes with the usual caveats of regulatory compliance. One might say it’s a blessing and a curse.

However, the existing license does not permit Coinbase to engage in merchant acquisition or domestic money transfer services, a restriction that might leave some wondering if the company is more of a financial tourist than a resident. A curious paradox, indeed.

As of now, 36 firms hold an MPI license for DPT services in Singapore. Coinbase’s entry adds another major international player to that list, a testament to the city-state’s enduring appeal for the financially ambitious.

Software and API integration potential

Industry observers suggest that the new platform could serve as infrastructure for software providers, such as invoicing platforms or ERP systems, a development that might make your average developer’s heart skip a beat. Or perhaps it’s just the thrill of the unknown.

The company has also noted that the onboarding process carries no application fee, and in some cases, approvals can be completed in as little as two days-a testament to the efficiency of modern bureaucracy. Or perhaps it’s just the illusion of efficiency.

Part of broader digital asset work in Singapore

The launch follows Coinbase’s participation in the MAS BLOOM Initiative, a project aimed at advancing digital asset settlement in Singapore, a city-state that has long been a testing ground for the next big thing in finance. Will it be the future, or just another flash in the pan?

Analysts suggest that the platform’s main utility, at least initially, will be for startups and exporters navigating the treacherous waters of multiple currencies and overseas clients. A niche, perhaps, but a crucial one.

The company has yet to announce when full public access to Coinbase Business will be available, leaving the curious and the impatient to speculate. One can only hope the wait is worth it-or at least less tedious than a tax audit.

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2025-11-12 13:59