Share this article

Upbit Receives Preliminary 'In-Principal' Approval in Singapore

The in-principal approval allows Upbit Singapore to continue providing regulated digital payment token services in compliance with the Payment Services Act 2019.

Updated Oct 16, 2023, 7:47 a.m. Published Oct 16, 2023, 5:03 a.m.
jwp-player-placeholder

Leading South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit's Singapore entity has received In-Principal Approval for a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

The MPI license will allow the exchange to continue offering regulated digital payment token services under the Payments Services Act (PSA), 2019 while awaiting the full approval, the exchange said in a press release on Monday.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters

Singapore usually regulates cryptocurrencies as digital payment tokens under the PSA. According to London-based investment migration consultancy Henley & Partners, Singapore has emerged as the world's leading crypto hub followed by Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, thanks to the country's government working closely with banks, businesses and the public.

"We are incredibly proud to receive the IPA from MAS, a globally renowned financial regulator. This approval reflects our unwavering commitment to building trusted digital asset businesses in Singapore. Through engaging collaboration with the regulator, businesses and communities, we will contribute to further establish Singapore as the leading hub for the next generation of financial businesses," Azman Hamid, Chief Compliance Officer of Upbit Singapore, said.

Upbit Singapore was established in 2018 and received exempt status from holding a license under the PSA in 2020.

Більше для вас

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

GP Basic Image

Що варто знати:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.

Більше для вас

Michael Saylor's Strategy Hangs on to Spot in Nasdaq 100 Index

Executive Chairman of Strategy Michael Saylor

The annual Nasdaq 100 rebalance saw six companies dropped and three new additions, with changes taking effect on December 22, but bitcoin treasury company Strategy hung onto its spot.

Що варто знати:

  • Strategy (MSTR) will remain in the Nasdaq 100 index despite a major reshuffle, which saw several household names dropped.
  • The firm's business model, which involves stockpiling bitcoin, has drawn criticism from analysts and index providers, with MSCI considering excluding crypto treasury companies from its benchmarks.
  • The Nasdaq 100 rebalance saw six companies dropped and three new additions, with changes taking effect on December 22, but Strategy's bitcoin-heavy strategy secured its spot.