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5 Best Crypto Exchanges in Singapore (2026) — Coinhako, Independent Reserve, Crypto.com, Coinbase & Bitstamp Compared

MAS has been quietly licensing the safe ones — and quietly blocking the risky ones. We compared 5 MAS-licensed Major Payment Institution (MPI) crypto exchanges in Singapore for 2026 across fees, supported coins, deposit methods, and which is genuinely best for your size.

Marcus Wong12 May 20268 min read

Crypto in Singapore has matured from "wild west" (2017–2021) to a properly regulated environment under MAS's Major Payment Institution (MPI) licensing regime. The MAS has been deliberately gate-keeping — quietly licensing the operationally sound exchanges that meet anti-money-laundering, custody, and capital adequacy requirements, and quietly blocking (and ordering to stop serving SG residents) the ones that don't. The collapse of FTX in late 2022 vindicated this approach.

We compared 5 of the most-used MAS-licensed crypto exchanges in Singapore for 2026 — Coinhako, Independent Reserve, Crypto.com, Coinbase Singapore, and Bitstamp. Across SGD on/off-ramp (PayNow + FAST), trading fees, supported coins, security history, and which is genuinely best for your portfolio size and trading style. Always verify the MAS Financial Institutions Directory before depositing real money — the licensed list is updated periodically and is the only definitive source.

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Coinhako

Coinhako — Singapore-Headquartered, Easiest SGD Onboarding

Founded 2014 in Singapore, Coinhako is the local-favourite. MAS Major Payment Institution (MPI) licensed since 2022. Supports 60+ coins (BTC, ETH, USDC, plus most major altcoins). The killer feature is the SGD on/off-ramp — direct integration with DBS/OCBC/UOB FAST + PayNow with NO additional deposit fees. Spot trading fee is 0.6% (one of the higher rates among the 5 listed but offset by the SGD ease). The app is functional, not flashy. Best for: SG residents who want the easiest fiat-to-crypto on-ramp without juggling multiple banks/wallets, especially those new to crypto.

MAS MPI licensed. SGD via DBS/OCBC/UOB FAST + PayNow (no deposit fees). 60+ coins. Spot trading 0.6%. New-user signup typically S$10–25 BTC bonus.

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Independent

Independent Reserve — Lowest Fees for Serious Volume

Australian-founded (2013), Singapore entity MAS-licensed. The pro pick for cost-sensitive serious traders. Trading fees: 0.50% standard, dropping to 0.10% maker/0.20% taker for high-volume tiers (S$100,000+/month volume). Supports 30+ coins — focused list, not the 'long tail' of altcoins. SGD on/off-ramp via FAST + PayNow available. Strong for institutional/HNW Australian-Singapore corridor. The app is functional but not as polished as Crypto.com. Best for: investors trading S$10,000+ per transaction or building S$50,000+ portfolios — the fee savings vs Coinhako compound significantly.

MAS-licensed. Trading fees 0.10–0.50% maker/taker (cheaper at higher volume tiers). 30+ coins. Strong AU-SG institutional pipeline.

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Crypto.com

Crypto.com — Global Brand + Visa Card with Crypto Rewards

Hong Kong-based global crypto brand, Singapore entity (Foris DAX Asia) MAS-licensed since 2023. Strongest brand recognition in this list (Matt Damon Super Bowl ad era). Supports 250+ coins. Two products to distinguish: Crypto.com APP (consumer-facing, 0.5–2.99% fees) vs Crypto.com EXCHANGE (pro/active trader, 0.04–0.40% maker/taker). The Crypto.com Visa card lets you earn 1–5% rewards in CRO (their native token) on everyday spending — a unique value-add not offered by other exchanges. Best for: people who want a polished consumer app PLUS the optional Visa-card crypto rewards layer.

MAS-licensed via Foris DAX Asia. App 0.5–2.99% / Exchange 0.04–0.40% fees. 250+ coins. Visa card with 1–5% CRO rewards on spending.

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Coinbase

Coinbase Singapore — US-Listed, 5,000+ Supported Assets

Largest US crypto exchange by user count, NASDAQ-listed (COIN). Singapore entity MAS-licensed. Trade fees come in two products: Coinbase 'Simple Trade' is convenience-priced at ~1.49% (high vs peers); Coinbase 'Advanced Trade' is 0–0.60% maker/taker — same engine, different UI. Supports 5,000+ assets — the broadest in this list, including very long-tail altcoins. SGD via PayNow + FAST. The user-experience is the most polished of the 5, especially for first-time users. Best for: investors wanting a US-listed regulated counterparty AND access to the longest tail of altcoins, especially if they specifically use Advanced Trade (NOT Simple Trade) to avoid the 1.49% rip.

MAS-licensed. NASDAQ-listed (COIN). 5,000+ assets. Use Advanced Trade (0–0.60%) — Simple Trade at 1.49% is much more expensive.

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Bitstamp

Bitstamp — Oldest Exchange Globally (2011), Solid for HODL

Founded 2011 in Slovenia — the oldest continuously-operating crypto exchange in the world (predates Coinbase by 2 years). Acquired by Robinhood in 2024. Singapore entity MAS-licensed. Trading fees 0.20–0.40% maker/taker — competitive but not the absolute lowest. Supports 80+ coins, focused on the major + mid-cap names (no fringe altcoins). SGD via FAST + bank wire. Track record is the differentiator: 13+ years operating without major hack or solvency event — extreme rarity in the crypto industry. Best for: long-term HODL portfolios where 'survives the next crisis' is a higher priority than 'has the newest altcoin' or 'cheapest fee'.

MAS-licensed. 2011-founded — oldest continuously-operating crypto exchange globally. Fees 0.20–0.40%. 80+ coins.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are crypto exchanges legal in Singapore?

Yes — but ONLY those holding a MAS Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence under the Payment Services Act (PSA). As of 2026, the licensed roster includes Coinhako, Independent Reserve, Crypto.com (Foris DAX Asia), Coinbase Singapore, Bitstamp, dtcpay, Hashkey, Paxos, Sygnum, OKX SG, Gemini SG, plus a handful of others. Unlicensed exchanges (FTX before its collapse, plus various offshore platforms) cannot solicit SG residents and have been ordered to stop. Always verify on the MAS Financial Institutions Directory at mas.gov.sg before depositing — the MAS list is the only reliable source.

Which Singapore crypto exchange has the lowest fees?

For volume-based traders (S$10,000+ per trade): Independent Reserve has the cheapest at 0.10–0.50% maker/taker once you're in the higher-volume tier. Crypto.com Exchange (not Crypto.com App) goes as low as 0.04% maker for top-tier accounts. For occasional retail (under S$1,000 per trade): Coinhako's 0.6% flat is competitive when you factor in the easy SGD on/off-ramp (no extra deposit fees via PayNow). Coinbase 'Simple Trade' is the most expensive at ~1.49% — only use Coinbase Advanced Trade for cost efficiency. Watch the spread: 'fee-free' platforms often hide cost in the bid-ask spread.

Can I deposit Singapore Dollars (SGD) directly to a crypto exchange?

Yes — at all 5 MAS-licensed exchanges in this list. Most efficient methods: (a) FAST transfer from DBS/OCBC/UOB/SCB/Citi to the exchange's SGD bank account (free, T+0); (b) PayNow to the exchange's UEN (free, instant) — Coinhako, Crypto.com, and Coinbase all support PayNow. (c) Xfers/wire transfer for larger amounts. Note: many SG banks (DBS, OCBC, UOB) periodically restrict transfers to crypto exchanges for risk management — if your transfer is blocked, switch to PayNow OR use a digital bank (GXS, MariBank, Trust) which generally don't restrict crypto-related transfers.

Should I keep my crypto on the exchange or move it to a self-custody wallet?

For amounts under ~S$5,000 OR for active trading: keeping it on a MAS-licensed exchange is reasonable — they hold customer assets in segregated trust accounts and the MAS regime requires custody safeguards. For larger amounts (S$10,000+) OR long-term HODL: move to self-custody (hardware wallet like Ledger / Trezor) — even MAS-licensed exchanges face hack risk, market events (FTX), or operational issues. Rule of thumb: 'not your keys, not your coins' for serious holdings. Self-custody requires personal responsibility for backup recovery phrase — losing it = losing everything.

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5 Best Crypto Exchanges in Singapore (2026) — Coinhako, Independent Reserve, Crypto.com, Coinbase & Bitstamp Compared

Related reading on MissLobang

Coinhako — Singapore-Headquartered, Easiest SGD Onboarding

Independent Reserve — Lowest Fees for Serious Volume

Crypto.com — Global Brand + Visa Card with Crypto Rewards

Coinbase Singapore — US-Listed, 5,000+ Supported Assets

Bitstamp — Oldest Exchange Globally (2011), Solid for HODL

Frequently Asked Questions

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