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Singapore Will Not Regulate Cryptocurrencies and Partners with Hong Kong for Fintech

Jeff Francis | Oct 26, 2017 | 07:00

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Singapore is putting itself out in the forefront of blockchain activity by announcing no regulations for cryptocurrency and entering into a fintech agreement with Hong Kong.

Singapore is making some waves when it comes to cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. While Singapore has a lot of ties to China when it comes to culture, education, and economy, it’s not following China’s lead when it comes to digital currency. China has banned ICOs and forced a number of exchanges to shut down, but Singapore is singing a different tune. In fact, the country has no plans on regulating cryptocurrency.

No Regulation for Bitcoin

There are times when it seems like the entire world is going crazy for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Luckily, the head of Singapore’s central bank has come out and said that the country has no plans on shackling the continuing rise of cryptocurrency by regulating it. Monetary Authority of Singapore Managing Director Ravi Menon said:

As of now I see no basis for wanting to regulate cryptocurrencies.

Menon then went to add that the bank’s focus should be to:

… look at the activities surrounding the cryptocurrency and asking ourselves what kinds of risks they pose, which risks would require a regulatory response, and then proceed from there.

However, Singapore will still be vigilant on tackling money laundering and other illegal activities that could be associated with the use of cryptocurrency. Currently, Singapore requires cryptocurrency exchanges operating within the country to comply with requirements for combating terrorism financing and money laundering.

Singapore Partnering with Hong Kong

However, there’s more blockchain and cryptocurrency news for Singapore. It has entered into a fintech cooperation agreement with Hong Kong as the central banks of each entity have signed on. The deal will focus on working together on business referrals, joint innovation projects, information sharing, and the exchange of expertise. At HKMA Fintech Day, it was announced that the first joint project will be about trade finance.

Roy Teo, the head of the Financial Centre Development Department of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, notes:

Traditionally as a financial center, there’s that comparison between Singapore and Hong Kong. But when it comes to fintech, this is where we recognize that there’s a lot of need for collaboration between the regulators.

With this fintech agreement, it seems that the Pacific Rim will be heating up as a center for new projects and startups. The lack of cryptocurrency regulation in Singapore should also be a tremendous draw in luring in projects too.

Do you think that Hong Kong and Singapore will now be a fintech magnet due to their agreement and Singapore’s lack of regulation for cryptocurrency? Let us know in the comments below.

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