Counterpart table
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| Function | Switzerland | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated financial supervisor | FINMA | MAS |
| Central bank | SNB | MAS |
| Financial market policy and legislation | SIF | MAS |
| Sanctions administration | SECO | MAS (financial sanctions) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UN Act) |
| Foundation and charity supervision | ESA (federal) and cantonal authorities | Commissioner of Charities (for charities only); CLGs supervised by ACRA |
| Federal/national tax authority | FTA | IRAS |
| Assessing tax authority | Cantonal tax administrations | IRAS |
| Financial intelligence unit | MROS | STRO |
| Economic crime prosecution | OAG, cantonal prosecutors | CAD (investigation), AGC (prosecution) |
| Company register | Cantonal commercial registers | ACRA |
| Immigration and work permits | Cantonal migration offices, SEM | MOM, ICA |
| Commercial court | Zürich Commercial Court; cantonal courts | General Division of the High Court; SICC |
| Arbitration institution | Swiss Arbitration Centre | SIAC |
| AML self-regulation | SROs (VQF, PolyReg, SO-FIT, ARIF, OAD-FCT) | None (MAS supervises directly) |
| Prudential supervision of asset managers | AOs under FINMA | MAS |
| Data protection authority | FDPIC | PDPC |
| Industry associations | Crypto Valley Association, Swiss Blockchain Federation, CMTA | BAS, SFA, ABS |
Practice note
The most common error of a Swiss practitioner in Singapore is to expect an SRO-like body that will discuss a business model informally before any filing. There is none. MAS's pre-application meeting is the nearest equivalent, but it is a meeting with the regulator, with the consequences that follow if the business is already operating. The most common error of a Singapore practitioner in Switzerland is the reverse: to approach FINMA for a view when the question is one the SRO or a tax ruling would answer faster and more cheaply. You should ask, for each question, which body actually decides it and whether a lower-level body can answer first.
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.