Singapore Leads With $1 Billion in Stablecoin Transactions Amid Global Push

September 11, 2024

Teuta Franjkovic

Senior Journalist

Expertise : Cryptocurrency, DeFi, Web3, DAO, Blockchain, FinTech

Teuta is a seasoned writer and editor with over 15 years of expertise in macroeconomics, technology, and the crypto and blockchain sectors. She began her career in 2005 as a lifestyle writer for *Cosmopolitan* before transitioning to business and economic reporting for renowned outlets like *Forbes* and *Bloomberg*. Inspired by thought leaders like Don and Alex Tapscott and Laura Shin, Teuta embraced blockchain's potential, viewing cryptocurrency as one of humanity's most transformative innovations. Since 2014, she has specialized in fintech, focusing on crypto, blockchain, NFTs, and Web3. Known for her strong collaboration and communication skills, Teuta also holds dual MAs in Political Science and Law.

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Highlights

Singapore witnessed a record-breaking $1B in stablecoin payments.
The retail adoption of stablecoins, particularly XSGD, is surging.
Regulatory clarity and improvements in Singapore have contributed to increased stablecoin adoption.

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In the second quarter, Singapore witnessed a record-breaking nearly $1 billion in stablecoin payments, predominantly at merchant locations, as reported by Chainalysis.

Eric Jardine, the Lead of Cybercrimes Research at Chainalysis, noted that businesses are increasingly adopting these tokens due to their “efficiency and low cost.” Furthermore, stablecoin transactions in Singapore totaled about $161 million in the latter half of 2023, according to the analysis.

Singapore Stablecoin Boom Sparks Debate Amid Crypto Hub Plans

Stablecoins, digital assets whose value is pegged to real-world assets like fiat currencies, are primarily used for crypto trading but have also attracted scrutiny for their use in illicit activities. Despite their role, stablecoins constitute only a minor portion of total payment flows.

For instance, retail card payments in Singapore reached S$73.2 billion (approximately $56.2 billion) in the latter half of the previous year, highlighting the dominance of traditional payment methods – and then the Singapore stablecoin boom started.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the efforts to become a digital asset, Singapore stablecoin could become more than a good thing for the country because it is focusing on leveraging blockchain technology for institutional applications that could enhance the speed and cost-effectiveness of financial transactions.

Over the past two years, the use of cryptocurrencies for payments in various services has seen an increase among merchants. For example, in March, Grab, a ride-hailing service, began allowing users to top up their e-wallets using cryptocurrencies through a partnership with payment firm Triple-A.

XSGD Drives Singapore’s Retail Crypto Surge Amid Banking Concerns

The popularity of stablecoins has also risen during this period. According to a study, over 75% of the transactions involving the stablecoin XSGD from the third quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2024 were in amounts of $1 million or less, indicating robust retail activity. In fact, nearly 25% of XSGD transfers were below $10,000. This contrasts with other US dollar-pegged stablecoins, which are predominantly transferred in larger amounts over $1 million, pointing to their prevalence in institutional settings, as noted by Chainalysis.

In addition, the rise in crypto activity and stablecoin payments also comes amid concerns over the traditional banking system, as market expert Robert Kiyosaki recently highlighted.

Echoing the sentiments from the study about regulatory impacts on crypto markets, Kiyosaki emphasized the vulnerabilities within the traditional financial systems, particularly the overstretched bond market. According to him, the global economy’s heavy reliance on debt, manifested through bonds, is a precarious foundation prone to eventual collapse.

Kiyosaki further elaborated on the nature of market and banking crashes. He suggested that while market crashes are often visible and predictable, providing time for preparation, banking crashes are more insidious and consequently more hazardous. This perspective aligns with the heightened interest in cryptocurrencies in lower-middle-income countries, possibly as a hedge against traditional financial uncertainties.

Regulatory Clarity Boosts Singapore Stablecoin Adoption

The Chainalysis study showed the positive impact of regulatory clarity on investor confidence when it comes t0 Singapore stablecoin. In August 2023, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) enhanced its stablecoin regulations by introducing new requirements for issuers, detailing segregation and custody rules for customer assets. Further regulatory measures were implemented in April 2024, when MAS introduced additional crypto custody and licensing requirements.

These regulatory improvements coincided with a significant uptick in global crypto activity, which saw its index score soar to 0.8 in the first quarter of 2024 from 0.39 in the previous quarter. This peak was the highest recorded from the third quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of 2024. The launch of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the US also stimulated a surge in the total value of Bitcoin activity, particularly in North America and Western Europe.

Also, recently, Paxos received approval from Singapore’s central bank to offer digital payment token services, allowing it to issue stablecoins in compliance with local regulations. This clearance by the MAS designates Paxos as a major payment institution, placing it among a select group of entities within Singapore’s stringent financial regulatory environment. This expansion is expected to increase the global reach of US dollar stablecoins and reinforces Paxos’ presence in the digital finance sector, further supported by its partnership with DBS Bank for cash management and stablecoin reserve custody.