How to buy bitcoin in Singapore
- Status
- Legal
- Currency
- Singapore dollar (SGD)
- Recommended
- 3 exchanges
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-12
Singapore permits bitcoin buying inside one of the world's strictest licensing regimes: Coinbase, which holds a local payments license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, is our first choice, with Kraken next and Coinmama a simple card option. MAS regulates digital payment token services under the Payment Services Act, extended in June 2025 by a firm new regime for digital token service providers, and it deliberately makes retail speculation uncomfortable: platforms must run risk-awareness assessments, cannot offer trading incentives, and cannot accept locally issued credit cards. Most buyers fund accounts by FAST or PayNow transfer in Singapore dollars. The upside of all that discipline is concrete: Singapore levies no capital gains tax, so long-term holders keep their profits.
Best exchanges in Singapore
Ranked by our editorial review of fees, security record, and local payment support. Rankings are never sold.
| # | Exchange | Rating | Fees | ID check | Pay with | Visit or read the review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coinbase | 4.5 | Maker-taker on Advanced Trade | Required | Visit | |
| 2 | Kraken | 4.7 | From 0.25% maker, 0.40% taker | Required | Visit | |
| 3 | Coinmama | 3.9 | Commission plus card surcharge | Required | Visit |
Why these picks
1. Coinbase The easiest US on-ramp for beginners, publicly listed, and legally in the clear since the SEC dropped its case.
2. Kraken A 2011-vintage exchange with one of the cleanest security records in the business, heading toward a US stock listing.
3. Coinmama A card-first broker that sends bitcoin straight to your own wallet instead of holding it for you.
Payment methods in Singapore
The rails local buyers actually use, under their local names. Support varies by exchange; the list above shows exactly which methods each one takes here.
- Fast bank transferPrimary
Crypto cards available in Singapore
These spend money at ordinary shops and pay you back in crypto, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those buy bitcoin, these do not. Availability is the issuer's own published coverage.
- Bitget Wallet Card2% base assetback on every cardholder, rising to 3% once monthly spend clears a $200-$400 threshold depending on region and card type; paid in a choice of BTC, gold, US stocks, and other assets.
- ether.fi Cash3% cashback on the first $2,000 (Core), $10,000 (Luxe), or $50,000 (Pinnacle) of monthly spend, stepping down to 1% then 0.5% beyond that band; invitation-only VIP pays 4% on its first $50,000.
- Crypto.com CardChangedPrepaid Visa: 0% (Basic, free) up to 5% CRO (Private, $500,000 12-month lockup), or 8% at the invitation-only $1M Prime tier; separate US Visa Signature credit card pays up to 6% in BTC or CRO.
Bitcoin wallets available in Singapore
A wallet is where bitcoin lives after you buy it, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those sell it, these hold it. Availability below is the maker's own published shipping or eligibility policy.
Hardware devices
- Keystone 3 Pro$149Air-gapped signing on a 4 inch touchscreen, with three security chips and a fingerprint reader, at $149.
- Ledger Flex$249The Ledger to buy if you want a touchscreen: $249, the same certified chip as the Stax, and more screen pixels than it.
- Ledger Nano S Plus$59Ledger's $59 entry device: the same certified secure element as the $399 Stax, no Bluetooth, and no iPhone support at all.
- Ledger Nano X$79The cheapest Ledger with Bluetooth, now $79 on Ledger's own store, and the one to buy if you want to sign from a phone.
- Ledger Stax$399Ledger's $399 flagship, with the biggest screen it sells and exactly the same secure element as the $59 Nano S Plus.
- Tangem Wallet$59.9A smart card you tap against your phone, sold only in sets of two or three so your backup is another card rather than a written seed.
Desktop and browser
Compare every wallet, including the ones we tell you not to buy
Watch: how to choose an exchange
This is our general video rather than a walkthrough for Singapore. It shows the method in two steps: first the country you are buying in, then the exchange. You have done step one by being here, so start from the exchanges ranked above.
We have not filmed a walkthrough for Singapore yet, so this is our general one, from our YouTube channel @dontgetrekt. It also sits on the home page, next to the country search it starts from.
Do you need a VPN?
A VPN hides which sites you visit from the network you are on and from your internet provider, which is worth having when you move money over a connection you do not control. It does not get you past an exchange's identity checks: every platform we list verifies who you are no matter where you connect from.
If you want one, the strongest records on our list belong to NordVPN (6 independent no-logs audits, the most of any service we review), Windscribe (its no-logs claim tested in the real world 3 times) and Proton VPN (the most audited service with a free tier).
Buying bitcoin in Singapore, start to finish
Pick a platform and verify your identity
Choose from the table above and complete KYC verification with a photo ID. Regulated platforms in Singapore require this before you can deposit.
Fund your account with fast bank transfer
Common options here: fast bank transfer, PayNow, debit card, international wire. Bank transfers are usually the cheapest; cards are faster but add fees.
Buy, then decide where to keep it
Place your order, and for anything more than pocket money consider moving it to a hardware wallet you control. Our security guide covers the habits that keep coins safe.
Legal status and regulation in Singapore
Bitcoin is legal in Singapore and closely supervised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Exchanges serving Singapore customers need licensing under the Payment Services Act, and from June 30, 2025 the Financial Services and Markets Act added a strict regime for digital token service providers, with MAS stating it would generally not license firms serving only overseas customers. Retail-facing rules ban credit card funding and trading incentives and require customer risk assessments, reflecting MAS's view of crypto as high-risk.
Words worth knowing before you buy in Singapore
Picked from what this page already says about Singapore, not from a standard list.
- Withdrawal feeInternational wireA withdrawal fee is what an exchange charges to send your bitcoin out to your own wallet, and it is usually a flat amount rather than the real network cost.
- Recurring buyPayNowA recurring buy is the exchange feature that executes a purchase for you on a schedule, pulling money from your bank on the day you picked without you logging in.
Frequently asked questions
Is bitcoin legal in Singapore?
Yes. Buying, holding, and selling bitcoin is legal, and platforms offering digital payment token services to Singapore customers must be licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Payment Services Act.
Do I pay tax on bitcoin gains in Singapore?
Singapore has no capital gains tax, so profits from long-term investment are generally untaxed for individuals. Income from trading as a business, or from being paid in crypto, is taxable as income instead.
Why can't I buy bitcoin with my credit card in Singapore?
MAS consumer-protection rules bar licensed platforms from accepting locally issued credit cards for crypto purchases, alongside bans on trading incentives and mandatory risk-awareness assessments. Fund with a FAST or PayNow transfer instead.
What changed with the DTSP rules in June 2025?
From June 30, 2025 the Financial Services and Markets Act required digital token service providers based in Singapore but serving only overseas customers to be licensed, and MAS said it would generally not grant such licenses. It signaled how strictly Singapore polices the sector.
Companies in Singapore that hold bitcoin
Publicly listed companies headquartered here with bitcoin on the balance sheet. Holdings come from company disclosures and are dated on each page.
