Financial regulation, anti-money laundering rules, sanctions and disputes: what Singapore law requires of your business, where it follows English law, and where the risks lie before they become problems.
The articles draw on Foundations and the MAS Approach, Private Law and Case Law, AML/CFT and Compliance and Enforcement, Insolvency and Dispute Resolution, and on the colonial origins of the legal order in Origins: From Temasek to the Free Port.
Regulation and Supervision
Financial regulation in Singapore is concentrated in one institution. The articles collected here explain the Westminster model in a city-state, the sources of law, the legal force of MAS notices, guidelines and FAQs, MAS's mandate and philosophy, the licensing categories, the Payment Services Act 2019, the Securities and Futures Act 2001, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2022, stablecoins, tokenisation and the steps of a licence application. The colonial origins of the legal order are told in the financial centre book. To the articlesLitigation and Arbitration
Singapore offers courts, arbitration and mediation for international disputes. The articles collected here explain the General Division of the High Court and the Singapore International Commercial Court, the International Arbitration Act 1994 and SIAC, mediation, freezing orders and tracing, insolvency, and the enforcement of awards and judgments. Their examples come from digital asset disputes, and much of the procedure is general. The colonial courts and the Privy Council appear in the financial centre book. To the articlesAML and Compliance
Singapore applies a broad regime against money laundering and terrorist financing. The articles collected here explain the three statutes on which it rests, the MAS notices, the enterprise-wide risk assessment, customer due diligence, the travel rule and the duty to report suspicious transactions. They also cover the money-laundering case of August 2023, sanctions, governance and inspections, and the running of one programme across a group. The examples come from digital payment token services, and much of the framework applies to financial institutions generally. To the articlesSanctions and Export Control
Singapore implements United Nations sanctions and has made one exception to its usual restraint. The articles collected here explain the United Nations Act 2001 and the regulations under it, the Russia measures of March 2022, the commercial reach of OFAC, screening practice, proliferation financing and the position of the lawyer. Export control and the trade side are not yet treated on this site. To the articlesWhite-Collar Crime and Corporate Liability
Singapore pursues dishonesty and market misconduct under general statutes. The articles collected here explain cheating, criminal breach of trust, fraud under section 424A of the Penal Code 1871, computer misuse, money laundering under the 1992 Act, unlicensed activity, market misconduct and corporate and officer liability. They also describe the enforcement agencies and how an investigation actually runs. The cases concern tokens, and the offences are general. To the articlesCapital Raising
An offer of securities in Singapore follows the Securities and Futures Act 2001. The articles collected here explain when a product is a capital markets product, when a token is not, prospectus requirements and exemptions, the licensing of intermediaries, approved exchanges and recognised market operators, and the MAS case examples. They also cover tokenised capital markets products under the 2025 Guide. To the articlesCrypto-Assets
Singapore has built a licensing regime for crypto-assets step by step. The articles collected here, from the book Digital Assets Law in Singapore and Switzerland, explain the MAS approach, the private law of tokens and the case law, the Payment Services Act 2019, the Securities and Futures Act 2001, Part 9 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2022, stablecoins and tokenisation. They also cover AML and sanctions, tax and fund incentives, enforcement and insolvency, structuring and a practical toolkit. The book states the law as at 30 June 2026. To the articlesCommodity Trading
Singapore was founded as a trading port. The articles collected here follow the entrepôt economy of the nineteenth century: the junk trade from the southern Chinese ports, Bugis, Arab, Indian and European traders, country traders and the opium economy, gambier and pepper, the agency house as intermediary, and the credit chains that held it all together. They also compare the entrepôt with Geneva. Part G of the book, on the commodity trading hub of today, is still to come. To the articlesTrade Finance
Trade finance is the oldest financial business of the port. The articles collected here explain how the agency houses of the nineteenth century discounted bills, how credit ran from Lancashire through Singapore to the archipelago, how the planters of gambier and pepper were financed, and how the river and the godowns supported it. Part H of the book, on trade finance, fraud and risk today, is still to come. To the articlesInternational Organisations
Singapore's digital-asset rules take shape within international standards and in comparison with other centres. The articles collected here explain the seven axes on which Singapore and Switzerland are compared, MiCA, Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. They also cover the standards of the FATF, the Financial Stability Board, the Basel Committee, IOSCO and the OECD, how each lands in national law, and what legitimate arbitrage means. To the articlesDigital Assets: Singapore I: Foundations and the MAS Approach
Singapore I: Foundations and the MAS Approach — a part of the book Digital Assets Law in Singapore and Switzerland by Dr Alexander Ressos. To the articlesDigital Assets: Singapore II: Private Law and Case Law
Singapore II: Private Law and Case Law — a part of the book Digital Assets Law in Singapore and Switzerland by Dr Alexander Ressos. To the articlesDigital Assets: Singapore IV: AML/CFT and Compliance
Singapore IV: AML/CFT and Compliance — a part of the book Digital Assets Law in Singapore and Switzerland by Dr Alexander Ressos. To the articlesDigital Assets: Singapore VI: Enforcement, Insolvency and Dispute Resolution
Singapore VI: Enforcement, Insolvency and Dispute Resolution — a part of the book Digital Assets Law in Singapore and Switzerland by Dr Alexander Ressos. To the articles