Singapore MAS proposes to ban cryptocurrency credit

Singapore MAS proposes to ban cryptocurrency credit

by Jeremy

The Financial Authority of Singapore (MAS) is introducing proposals to raised regulate the cryptocurrency trade within the aftermath of the chapter of the Singaporean crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC).

The central financial institution of Singapore has issued two session papers on proposals for regulating the operations of digital cost token service suppliers (DPTSP)​​ and stablecoin issuers underneath the Cost Providers Act.

Revealed on Oct. 26, each session papers goal to scale back dangers to shoppers from crypto buying and selling and enhance requirements of stablecoin-related transactions.

The primary doc consists of proposals for digital cost token (DPT) providers or providers associated to main cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) or XRP (XRP).

In response to the authority, “any type of credit score or leverage within the buying and selling of DPTs” would end result within the “magnification of losses,” probably main to greater losses than a buyer’s funding.

In part 3.20, MAS proposed to ban DPTSPs from offering retail clients with “any credit score facility,” whether or not within the type of fiat currencies or crypto. In response to the regulator, crypto service suppliers must also not be allowed to just accept any deposits made utilizing bank cards in change for crypto providers.

“MAS proposes that DPTSPs ought to be certain that clients’ belongings are segregated from the DPTSPs’ personal belongings, and held for the good thing about the shopper,” the central financial institution famous, referring to the current failure of a number of companies within the crypto trade, together with 3AC’s insolvency in June.

Apart from that, the MAS additionally advised that DPTSPs ought to think about adopting client exams to evaluate retail clients’ information of dangers related to crypto.

The second session paper offers proposals for a regulatory strategy for stablecoins in Singapore, offering a set of enterprise and operational necessities for stablecoin issuers.

Within the part 4.21 of the doc, MAS proposed to limit stablecoin issuers from lending or staking single-currency pegged stablecoins (SCS), in addition to from lending or buying and selling different cryptocurrencies.

“That is to ring fence and mitigate dangers to the SCS issuer in lieu of a complete risk-based capital regime. Such actions can nonetheless be carried out from different associated entities,” the session paper reads.

The regulator additionally proposed to introduce a minimal base capital of $1 million or 50% of annual working bills of the SCS issuer. The capital needs to be held always and embrace liquid belongings, MAS added.

Associated: HK and Singapore’s mega-rich are eyeing crypto investments: KPMG

The regulator invited events to submit their feedback on the proposals by Dec. 21, 2022.

As beforehand reported, the crypto winter of 2022 has change into notably dangerous for cryptocurrency lenders as many such companies turned unable to pay out their obligations due to an enormous market drop. Some Bitcoin analysts are assured that crypto lending can nonetheless survive this bear market however they should remedy points associated to short-term belongings and short-term liabilities.