Top Regulated Crypto Exchanges in Singapore: Fees, Spreads & Safety Guide [July 2026 Update]

In this guide, we break down every regulated crypto exchange and broker currently operating legally in Singapore under the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) licensing framework. We’ve verified all fee structures directly against official websites to ensure you aren’t paying surprise costs. Whether you want the absolute lowest trading fees, a platform holding a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license, or a secure exchange supporting instant FAST bank transfers, CoinBeaver has your definitive Singapore cheat sheet for 2026.

Verified against official exchange fee schedules and MAS register records.

Quick Summary: All Regulated Singapore Exchanges

Best Exchange by Category

Based on official fee schedules and Singapore product constraints under MAS in mid-2026, here are our top picks across four categories.

Best Overall and Domestic Alternative

Coinhako

Coinhako is Singapore-based and represents the premier regulated broker in the country. Holding a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from MAS, it operates with strict compliance and consumer protections. It supports instant and free fiat on/off-ramping via FAST transfers and PayNow, offering a highly convenient mobile app for buying and selling 100+ digital assets.

Trading Fee

1.0% flat fee (promotions vary).

SGD Funding

Free, instant via FAST & PayNow.

Licensing

MAS Major Payment Institution (MPI) holder.

Pros

• Singapore-founded platform with deep domestic alignment
• Seamless PayNow and FAST bank transfer integrations
• Extremely simple purchase interface for beginners
• Over 100+ digital assets supported locally

Cons

• 1.0% retail trading fee is high compared to advanced exchange interfaces
• Staking features are completely unavailable under MAS laws

Best for Institutional and OTC

Independent Reserve

Independent Reserve Singapore holds a full MAS MPI license and serves as the primary platform for institutional traders, family offices, and high-net-worth accounts in Singapore. It features institutional security standards, segregated statutory trust accounts, and a robust OTC desk for large volume executions.

Trading Fee

0.50% tiered maker/taker.

Safety

Segregated statutory trust structures.

SGD Funding

Free via FAST bank transfers.

Pros

• Highly compliant custody framework with MAS statutory trust compliance
• Excellent OTC execution desk for large trades
• Competitive tiered maker/taker fees starting at 0.50%
• Frictionless API access and institutional account managers

Cons

• Smaller coin selection (~30 core assets)
• Staking services are completely unavailable in Singapore

Lowest Fees for Advanced Trading

Coinbase

Coinbase Singapore operates with a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from MAS, giving users the assurance of a global brand operating under domestic laws. While standard simple retail buys carry high markups, Coinbase Advanced provides professional charting, high liquidity order books, and maker/taker fees starting at 0% maker / 0.60% taker.

Advanced Fee

0% to 0.60% maker/taker.

SGD Funding

Free, instant via FAST transfers.

Token Count

250+ tradeable coins (largest list in SG).

Pros

• Global brand familiarity with a full MAS MPI license
• Coinbase Advanced offers low active trading commissions
• FAST bank transfer support for immediate SGD settlement
• Largest coin catalog available to Singapore retail

Cons

• Simple retail purchase interfaces have high markups
• Earn/Staking services are legally blocked for Singapore accounts

Best Security and Cold Storage

Gemini

Gemini operates under In-Principle Approval (IPA) for a Major Payment Institution license from MAS, utilizing its local entity (Gemini Digital Payments Singapore, Pte. Ltd.). It is renowned for its security architecture and cold-storage vaulting. Gemini ActiveTrader features maker/taker rates starting at 0.20% maker / 0.40% taker.

ActiveTrader Fee

0.20% maker / 0.40% taker.

SGD Funding

Free FAST transfers.

Custody

SOC 1 & SOC 2 certified security infrastructure.

Pros

• Operating under MAS regulatory framework and IPA
• ActiveTrader rates starting at 0.20% maker
• State-of-the-art cold-storage vaults
• Free SGD FAST deposits and withdrawals

Cons

• Smaller coin selection (around 80+) than Coinbase
• Staking features are completely unavailable in Singapore

All Other Exchanges Reviewed

Since the Singapore market has a highly concentrated list of licensed Major Payment Institution (MPI) digital payment token providers, all major regulated platforms serving retail users have been covered in our detailed category reviews above. Other international exchanges (like Luno) have officially exited the Singapore market, and offshore exchanges (like Binance.com) are not registered to serve local retail customers.

Beyond the Trading Fee

Choosing the right Singapore exchange requires looking beyond the trading commission. Outbound costs, local trust laws, and MAS staking policies play a major role in your actual returns:

• 💸 Outbound Transfers: All licensed platforms support free SGD deposits and withdrawals via FAST bank transfers, but withdrawing digital assets to your private hardware wallet incurs standard blockchain network fees.
• ⚡ Staking Yields: Due to MAS customer protection regulations, licensed exchanges are strictly prohibited from offering or facilitating staking, lending, or yield products to retail customers in Singapore.
• 🛡️ Statutory Trusts: MAS requires licensed exchanges to keep all customer assets in independent statutory trust accounts. This safeguards your funds, ensuring they cannot be lent out or used as collateral by the exchange, and must be returned to you in the event of insolvency.

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

Many exchanges that advertise "$0 commissions" make their money through the spread instead. SGD bank cash-outs are generally free, but funding methods like credit/debit cards carry markups.

Free SGD Withdrawals

These Singapore platforms charge $0 to cash out your SGD via FAST transfers:

Platforms Funding Fees

These exchanges charge fees for specific card or deposit channels:

Staking and Yield

The Singapore crypto regulatory landscape has restricted how exchanges can offer staking yields to retail customers. Following MAS's implementation of strict consumer protection measures, licensed platforms are banned from offering or facilitating yield services to retail users.

Common Beginner Pitfalls

Pitfall #1: Fall for “Zero-Commission” Marketing

The Reality: Many brokers target beginners with the promise of "$0 commission trading." These services make their money by widening the spread (the difference between the buy and sell prices). Buying $1,000 of Bitcoin on a "commission-free" brokerage with a 1.0% spread silently costs you $10 instantly.

Pitfall #2: Card Funding Fees

The Reality: Casual investors often fund their accounts using standard debit or credit cards because it is convenient, only to get hit with high percentage fees. Card deposits on Coinhako and Coinbase Singapore carry markups of ~3.0%.

Pitfall #3: Yield Seekers Trap (Offshore Staking Yields)

The Reality: Since staking yields are prohibited on licensed Singapore exchanges, retail users are often tempted to use unregistered offshore exchanges offering high yields. If those offshore platforms collapse, Singapore authorities cannot assist you, and you have no legal recovery channels.

Pitfall #4: Withdrawal/Transfer Network Fee Markups

The Reality: Casual investors often buy crypto with the intent to withdraw it, but ignore withdrawal markups. Always check whether the platform charges a flat service fee on top of standard blockchain network fees.

Are These Exchanges Safe? (MAS and Trusts)

All exchanges and brokers listed in this guide hold or are operating under in-principle approval for a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

To ensure consumer protection, MAS requires licensed exchanges to:

• Keep customer assets in a statutory trust: Customer funds must be kept separate from the exchange's corporate assets. In a bankruptcy, creditors cannot claim customer assets.
• Maintain 90% in cold storage: Exchanges must hold at least 90% of customer digital assets in offline cold storage wallets to minimize hacking risks.
• Prohibit lending and staking: Exchanges cannot lend out, borrow, or stake customer assets, preventing the risk of liquidity crises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: Crypto markets, regulatory requirements, and fee schedules change rapidly. The data above was verified against official platform websites and regulatory filings as of July 2026.