Bitstamp Secures Coveted Major Payment Institution Licence from Singapore Regulator – A Game Changer for Crypto

Singapore tightens its grip as Asia's crypto hub—Bitstamp just got the golden ticket.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) dropped the regulatory hammer today, granting Bitstamp a Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence. This isn't just paperwork—it's a backstage pass to the country's booming digital asset economy.

Why this matters:

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Regulatory street cred
: Bitstamp joins an elite club of licensed crypto players in Singapore, putting it ahead of unregulated competitors still lurking in regulatory purgatory.

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Institutional domino effect
: With MPI status, Bitstamp can now court deep-pocketed investors who've been waiting for compliant on-ramps. Expect trading volumes to spike.

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The Singapore squeeze
: MAS keeps raising the bar—approvals are getting harder, making this licence look like a limited-edition NFT.

Bottom line: While traditional banks still treat crypto like a risky Tinder date, Singapore's playing matchmaker with regulation. Bitstamp's win today proves compliance is the new competitive edge—even if it means jumping through more hoops than a DeFi protocol audit.

Robinhood-owned crypto exchange Bitstamp announced today that it has received a Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), marking "the start of [their] expansion into APAC," and "a key milestone in [their] commitment to providing secure, compliant, and institutional-grade access to crypto markets," according to a company blog post.

Earlier this year, Bitstamp also secured a crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, issued by Luxembourg-based regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

Started in 2011, Bitstamp was recently acquired by Robinhood, a trading platform based in the U.S. popular for offering zero commission or trading fees, in a $200 million deal just last month.

Part of Bitstamp's appeal as an acquisition target was undoubtedly its numerous licences globally. The company holds over 50 regulatory licenses and registrations across several European Union countries, UK, U.S. and now, Singapore.