Kuala Lumpur, 13 May 2026 – The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) was awarded Best Systemic and Prudential Regulator in Asia Pacific for its anticipatory, multi-dimensional approach to systemic risk management that sets global standards rather than merely responding to domestic problems. Structural market development for physical gold In 2025, MAS proactively worked with the Singapore Bullion Market Association (SBMA) to develop Singapore as a trusted global hub for physical gold storage and trading. The initiative introduced high‑standard warehousing and settlement frameworks designed to capture safe‑haven flows amid global uncertainty. By building this permanent market infrastructure, MAS addressed systemic risks before they materialised. Rigorous “quality over quantity” strategy for digital token service providers MAS executed a stringent policy for Digital Token Service Providers (DTSPs), stipulating that entities serving primarily non‑Singaporean customers would generally not be licensed. This drove industry consolidation, removed regulatory arbitrage, and strengthened the systemic integrity of the digital asset ecosystem. The authority also imposed, under Phase 3 of the Financial Services Markets Act (FSMA), source‑of‑wealth corroboration and other stringent anti-money laundering (AML) controls on digital token service providers. Multi‑domain prudential coverage across sustainable finance, capital resilience and AML MAS simultaneously advanced five distinct prudential domains in 2025: it published guidance on the Singapore‑Asia Taxonomy and co‑launched the Multi‑Jurisdiction Common Ground Taxonomy for sustainable finance; revised MAS Notice 637 to disqualify Additional Tier 1 (AT1) and Tier 2 capital instruments sold to retail investors, aligning with Basel standards; and strengthened AML defences through FSMA Phase 3. By combining structural market development, digital asset integrity, sustainable finance leadership, Basel‑aligned capital resilience and enhanced AML controls, MAS demonstrated a comprehensive, forward‑looking approach to systemic risk management. About the Regulation and Supervision Awards The Regulation and Supervision Awards programme evaluates and recognises the achievements of central banks and banking regulators in fulfilling their varied roles of managing macroeconomic performance in terms of maintaining inflation and price stability; systemic and prudential regulation to ensure the soundness and stability of the financial system; and conduct of business regulation to cover the licensing, behaviour and practices of financial services providers to ensure equity amongst participants and fair treatment of consumers and users. Visit https://tabglobalawards.com/regulation&supervision/awards.php for details. About TAB Global TAB Global owns and manages a number of world-class digital content platforms namely The Asian Banker, Wealth and Society and BankQuality.com as well as learning platforms such as The Banking Academy and The Skill Store. Incorporated in Singapore, it has offices in Beijing, Dubai and support offices in Kuala Lumpur and Manila, with plans to expand to Johannesburg, London, Zurich and New York. Visit https://www.tab.global/ for details. Media Contact Nanda Lakhwani Editor TAB Global Email: nlakhwani@tab.global
