Regulations for all Payment Services Providers

Does the transfer of crypto fall under money transfer services?


No. Regulated money transfer services involve the transfer of fiat or e-money. From MAS' regulatory standpoint, crypto is not considered e-money because:

"DPT is a concept unique to Singapore and the regulatory regime surrounding it sits alongside that for a more traditional concept of e-money, derived from and very similar to the UK/European concept. It seeks to capture crypto assets like bitcoin and ether – the "classic" virtual currencies. In defining a DPT, Singapore sought to create a mutually exclusive regime from e-money."

Source: Osborne Clarke, last revised on 17 February 2020

"As the framework of the PSA helpfully differentiates between e-money and DPTs, it is clear that any person who intends to provide the services of transferring fiat currency or e-money, or both, would require a payment service provider licence in respect of domestic money transfer services and cross-border money transfer services, as applicable."

"Furthermore, [...] the service of dealing in DPTs (buying or selling, or both) and the service of facilitating the exchange of DPTs through establishing or operating a DPT exchange would constitute DPT services, for which a licence is required under the PSA."

"While at present the transfer of DPTs is not a service for which a licence is required under the PSA, in light of forthcoming amendments to the PSA, this will change in the future."

Source: The Law Reviews, last revised on 02 September 2021


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