61% of Singapore’s Finance-Savvy Investors Choose Trust Over Low Fees: Survey

Singapore’s retail crypto market is maturing as investors move away from chasing the cheapest platforms and toward exchanges they consider trustworthy, according to a new survey released on Thursday by financial comparison platform MoneyHero and cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.

Surveying 3,513 retail investors and crypto-curious adults in Singapore, the study found that 61% of “finance-savvy” Singaporeans now hold crypto, marking one of the strongest adoption levels recorded in the country.

Social Media Tops as Learning Channel for Singapore Crypto Investors

Among those investors, trust ranked as the top factor when choosing a trading platform, surpassing low fees, rewards, and ease of use.

The findings point to a shift in Singapore’s approach to digital assets, as market participants increasingly prioritize regulated environments, clear protections, and long-term reliability.

The survey also shows a maturing investor base. 58% identify as long-term holders, while 42% have kept their investments for more than two years.

Respondents maintained a relatively conservative allocation, keeping crypto under 10% of their portfolios, with an average of three tokens.

While ownership is high among financially literate participants, there is still room for growth. 27% of non-holders said they plan to enter the market within the next 12 months, indicating steady continued interest.

Perception of digital assets remains mixed. 44% view crypto as an asset class, while nearly a third see it as speculative.

When it comes to education, 62% cited social media as their primary learning channel, a trend the researchers said presents both opportunities for outreach and risks of misinformation.

Friends and family followed at 55%, while 43% cited mainstream news. Confidence levels were evenly divided: 48% feel confident in their understanding of crypto, while 52% do not.

The survey arrives as Singapore continues to strengthen its regulatory oversight of digital assets under the Payment Services Act, enforced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

The framework requires all digital payment token service providers to be licensed and comply with strict anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules.

MAS Oversight and Institutional Support Drive Singapore’s Crypto Growth

Singapore’s clear regulatory framework has helped cement its position as one of Asia’s most active blockchain hubs, even as authorities maintain a conservative approach to retail trading.

The combination of strict consumer safeguards and strong support for institutional digital finance continues to attract major firms.

In 2024, the MAS issued 13 new crypto licenses, more than twice the number granted the previous year, to platforms including OKX, Upbit, and Anchorage.

MAS’s firm supervisory approach remained evident through 2025. Mid-year, Bitget and Bybit began preparing to scale down services after receiving final warnings from the regulator to stop serving overseas clients without authorization.

The move shows Singapore’s insistence on compliance while the broader market expands.

Singapore’s digital-asset activity now extends well beyond trading. MAS recently began piloting tokenized MAS bills settled with a wholesale CBDC, while DBS, OCBC, and UOB completed interbank lending trials using a CBDC-based system.

Additionally, MAS has also partnered with Vietnam’s State Securities Commission to support regulatory development for capital markets and digital assets.

Corporate participation is growing as well. Department-store chain Metro introduced stablecoin payments via Dtcpay, enabling purchases in USDT, USDC, and WUSD.

Notably, Circle reported that Asia-Pacific saw $2.4 trillion in on-chain stablecoin flows between June 2024 and June 2025, placing Singapore among the world’s top three stablecoin hubs.

Institutional infrastructure is expanding in parallel. Coinbase launched Coinbase Business, its first international rollout, offering local startups tools for instant USDC payments and global transfers.

The launch follows the company’s involvement in MAS’s BLOOM Initiative for compliant cross-border payments.

Despite macroeconomic caution reflected in other surveys, Independent Reserve’s February 2025 report showed overall ownership falling to 29% among the general population.

The report noted that finance-savvy Singaporeans appear to be holding steady, with trust playing a more central role than ever.