Singapore’s central bank has pushed back the rollout of Basel-style capital rules for banks’ crypto exposures by at least a year, citing the need for global coordination.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) confirmed the move in its official consultation response released on October 9, shifting implementation from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027—or later.

The decision follows industry feedback warning that early adoption could trigger regulatory arbitrage if Singapore moved ahead of other jurisdictions.

“MAS will defer the implementation of the prudential treatment and disclosures of cryptoasset exposures to 1 January 2027 or later and will provide updates on the final cryptoasset standards and implementation date in due course,” the regulator said.

The framework aligns domestic supervision with the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s 2022 global cryptoasset standard, which requires capital buffers of up to 1,250% for highly volatile digital assets. MAS said it would issue further updates once international timelines converge.

The delay gives lenders more time to calibrate risk-weighting models and valuation systems. MAS also underscored the need for “greater international consistency” on how stablecoins and permissionless blockchains are classified.

This measured stance contrasts with Hong Kong, where the HKMA has floated lighter capital rules to attract institutional inflows, a divergence that highlights how Asia’s top financial hubs are testing different playbooks.

Respondents, including Circle, Coinbase, Paxos, Fireblocks, and OCBC, warned that categorizing most public-chain assets as high-risk “Group 2” exposures could stifle innovation.

MAS said it would review advances such as layer-2 settlement safeguards and pursue harmonization on eligible reserve assets tied to stablecoins. Banks must continue consulting MAS on the “appropriate prudential treatment” of crypto holdings through at least 2026.

The deferral coincides with tighter oversight of offshore exchanges. According to Elliptic, MAS ordered overseas-only platforms to cease unlicensed operations or obtain approval by June 30. The Financial Times reported that Bitget and Bybit have since shifted staff to Hong Kong and Dubai.

Nevertheless, institutional adoption continues to build momentum across the Asia-Pacific. A BeInCrypto interview with Laser Digital CEO Jez Mohideen noted that Web3 activity is expanding beyond Singapore and Hong Kong into Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, reflecting a maturing regional market.

Despite stricter supervision, crypto adoption in Singapore remains resilient. An analysis ranked the city-state first globally, with 24.4 percent of its population owning digital assets. Another report found Asian family offices allocating 3–5% of portfolios to crypto. This underscores rising institutional interest even as regulators proceed cautiously.

The delay cements Singapore’s reputation as a disciplined fintech hub—one that prizes stability over speed even as it leads the world in retail and institutional digital-asset adoption. Interim rules under MAS Notice 637 remain in force, defining Additional Tier-1 and Tier-2 capital instruments.

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