Comparative summary
| Conduct | Singapore charge | Swiss charge |
|---|---|---|
| Fake yield platform, investors deceived | Cheating s 420 PC (10 years) | Fraud Art. 146 SCC (5 years, 10 if professional) |
| Custodian officer diverts customer tokens | CBT s 409 PC (20 years) | Misappropriation Art. 138 SCC (5 years, 10 if qualified) |
| False statement to prevent withdrawals | Fraud s 424A PC (up to 20 years if loss) | Fraud Art. 146 SCC if a disposition follows; otherwise unfair competition or FinSA conduct breach |
| Private key theft and drain | CMA ss 3–5 (up to 10 years) | Unauthorised data access Art. 143bis, data theft Art. 143 SCC |
| Laundering proceeds via exchange | CDSA ss 51, 54, 55 (10 years) | Art. 305bis SCC (3 years, 5 if aggravated) |
| Operating without licence | PSA s 5 (3 years), FSMA Part 9 | Art. 44 FINMASA (3 years) |
| Manipulating a listed security token | SFA ss 197–201 (7 years) | Arts 154–155 FinMIA (3 years, 5 if qualified) |
The table shows a system that punishes dishonesty more heavily than Switzerland and that reaches negligent participation in laundering, which Swiss law leaves to administrative sanction. It also shows two systems with the same structural gap for pure payment tokens in the market-abuse field. A client choosing between the hubs for a business that will handle customer assets should understand that Singapore's criminal exposure for officers is materially higher and that Singapore's prosecutors use it.
For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of October 2026.