By CoinAINews Staff
Published: September 9, 2026
Gemini has secured a Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence from Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), giving the cryptocurrency company full regulatory authorization for key payment and digital-asset activities in the country.
The licence was granted to Gemini Digital Payments Singapore, Pte. Ltd. and became effective on September 1, 2026, according to Singapore's official financial institution directory. MAS lists the Gemini entity as a Major Payment Institution authorized for Digital Payment Token Service and Cross-border Money Transfer Service.
The approval is an important step for Gemini because it moves the company beyond the in-principle approval it previously held and gives its Singapore operation a full local licence under the country's payments framework.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company | Gemini Digital Payments Singapore, Pte. Ltd. |
| Regulator | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) |
| Licence | Major Payment Institution (MPI) |
| Effective date | September 1, 2026 |
| Licensed services | Digital Payment Token Service and Cross-border Money Transfer Service |
| Jurisdiction | Singapore |
Gemini Moves From In-Principle Approval to Full Singapore Licence
The latest development completes a licensing process that Gemini began several years ago.
In October 2024, Gemini announced that it had received in-principle approval from MAS for a Major Payment Institution licence. That approval covered digital payment token services and cross-border money transfer services, but it was not the same as holding the final licence.
Gemini subsequently transitioned its Singapore customers to Gemini Digital Payments Singapore in April 2025 while the company continued working toward full licensing. At the time, Gemini described the entity as having MAS in-principle approval.
That status has now changed.
MAS's current directory lists Gemini Digital Payments Singapore as an active Major Payment Institution, with the relevant payment services shown on the regulator's official database.
What Does Gemini's MPI Licence Allow?
A Major Payment Institution licence is a regulatory authorization under Singapore's payments framework. It allows a licensed institution to conduct regulated payment services within the scope approved by MAS.
For Gemini's Singapore entity, the regulator currently lists two relevant activities:
- Digital Payment Token Service
- Cross-border Money Transfer Service
MAS explains that Major Payment Institutions are subject to more comprehensive regulatory requirements than standard payment institutions because of the larger scale and risks associated with their operations.
The licence therefore provides Gemini with a regulated foundation for its Singapore digital-asset and payment-related activities.
This Is Not a Banking Licence
One important distinction is worth making clear: Gemini has not become a bank in Singapore.
An MPI licence is a payments licence, not a conventional banking licence. It authorizes specified regulated payment services and does not mean Gemini has the same regulatory status as a commercial bank.
The approval also does not guarantee the value or performance of any cryptocurrency offered through the platform.
Instead, the significance of the licence is that Gemini's Singapore entity is now operating under the country's formal payments regulatory framework for the services covered by its authorization.
Why Singapore Is Important for Gemini
Singapore has positioned itself as a major financial and technology hub in Asia while maintaining a relatively detailed regulatory framework for digital assets.
For global crypto companies, that combination makes Singapore an important market but also one where regulatory authorization matters.
Gemini's full MPI licence gives the company a clearer regulatory footing as it continues serving customers in the country.
It also comes at a time when crypto exchanges are increasingly building regulated operations in individual jurisdictions rather than relying only on licences or registrations from other markets.
Gemini's Singapore Entity Handles Local Operations
Gemini Digital Payments Singapore was established as the local entity responsible for the company's Singapore operations.
Gemini had already moved Singapore customers from Gemini Trust Company to the Singapore entity in April 2025 as part of its licensing process. The company said the transition did not change customers' crypto holdings or fiat funds.
The transition also meant that Singapore customers would be managed under the local Gemini entity rather than the U.S.-based Gemini Trust Company.
With the full MPI licence now in place, that local regulatory structure has moved into a more established phase.
What the Licence Means for Gemini Customers
For Singapore customers, the most important change is the regulatory status of the entity providing the relevant services.
Instead of operating only under an earlier exemption and in-principle approval arrangement, Gemini Digital Payments Singapore is now listed by MAS as a Major Payment Institution.
That does not remove the normal risks associated with crypto markets. Bitcoin and other digital assets can still experience significant price volatility, and users remain responsible for understanding the products they use.
Regulation should therefore not be confused with a guarantee against investment losses.
Gemini's Expansion Into Regulated Crypto Markets
The Singapore approval fits into a broader trend among major cryptocurrency companies: establishing regulated entities in key financial centers.
For exchanges, local licensing can provide a clearer framework for dealing with customers, financial institutions and other businesses.
It can also make the regulatory status of specific services easier for customers to understand.
Gemini's latest Singapore approval is particularly notable because the licence covers both digital payment token services and cross-border money transfer services.
What Is a Digital Payment Token Service?
Singapore uses the term Digital Payment Token (DPT) within its regulatory framework for certain crypto and digital-token activities.
Gemini's MPI licence specifically includes Digital Payment Token Service, according to MAS's official financial institution directory.
This does not mean every digital asset or every possible crypto product is automatically approved. Specific services and tokens remain subject to applicable regulatory requirements.
For users, the key point is that Gemini's Singapore entity is now licensed for the regulated DPT activity identified by MAS.
Why the Cross-Border Money Transfer Service Matters
The second licensed activity is Cross-border Money Transfer Service.
That is notable because crypto markets increasingly overlap with international payments and money movement. Stablecoins, digital assets and blockchain-based payment infrastructure are being explored for faster cross-border transfers, although their regulatory treatment varies by jurisdiction.
Gemini's authorization gives its Singapore entity a regulated basis for the cross-border money transfer service listed by MAS.
It does not mean every cross-border crypto payment product Gemini could potentially develop is automatically approved. Any new service would still need to comply with the applicable regulatory framework.
Gemini Had Already Built a Singapore Presence
The new licence does not represent Gemini's first entry into Singapore.
The company has been building its Singapore operation for several years, including the creation of Gemini Digital Payments Singapore and the transfer of Singapore customers to the local entity.
Gemini's earlier licensing announcement in 2024 described the MPI approval as part of its effort to expand its regulated presence in the region.
The full licence now gives that strategy a more definitive regulatory milestone.
What Could Come Next?
The licence creates room for Gemini to continue developing its regulated Singapore business, but the approval itself does not announce a specific new product launch.
The company's next steps could involve expanding services that fit within its licensed activities, strengthening institutional relationships or developing additional payment-related infrastructure.
However, those possibilities should not be presented as confirmed plans unless Gemini or MAS announces them.
For now, the confirmed development is straightforward: Gemini Digital Payments Singapore has received the full MPI licence and is listed by MAS for Digital Payment Token and Cross-border Money Transfer services.
What This Means for the Wider Crypto Industry
Gemini's approval is another example of the cryptocurrency industry moving toward jurisdiction-specific regulation.
Rather than treating crypto as a single global regulatory market, large exchanges increasingly need to meet different licensing requirements in different countries.
Singapore's decision is therefore relevant beyond Gemini itself. It shows how an established financial center is incorporating regulated digital-asset activities into its existing payments framework.
For crypto businesses, the message is clear: regulatory infrastructure is becoming an increasingly important part of international expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Gemini receive a crypto licence in Singapore?
Yes. Gemini Digital Payments Singapore, Pte. Ltd. has received a Major Payment Institution licence from Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore. MAS lists the entity as an MPI.
When did Gemini's Singapore MPI licence become effective?
The licence became effective on September 1, 2026, according to the regulatory information associated with Gemini's Singapore licence.
What services are covered by Gemini's Singapore licence?
MAS lists Digital Payment Token Service and Cross-border Money Transfer Service for Gemini Digital Payments Singapore.
Did Gemini previously have approval in Singapore?
Yes. Gemini received in-principle approval for an MPI licence in October 2024 and later transitioned Singapore customers to its local entity while working toward full licensing.
Does the Singapore MPI licence make Gemini a bank?
No. An MPI licence is a payments authorization and does not give Gemini the status of a conventional commercial bank.
Does the licence guarantee crypto investors' funds?
No. Regulatory licensing does not eliminate cryptocurrency price, technology or market risks.
Does Gemini's licence mean every crypto product is approved in Singapore?
No. The authorization applies to the regulated services covered by the licence. Individual products and activities remain subject to applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
Bottom Line
Gemini has secured a full Major Payment Institution licence in Singapore, strengthening the exchange's regulated presence in one of Asia's key financial markets.
The licence was granted to Gemini Digital Payments Singapore and is effective from September 1, 2026. MAS lists the entity for Digital Payment Token Service and Cross-border Money Transfer Service.
The development is especially significant because it completes Gemini's move from the in-principle approval it received in 2024 to a full local payment licence.
For Gemini, Singapore now provides a clearer regulatory foundation for its digital-asset and payment operations. For the wider crypto market, the approval highlights the growing importance of regulated local entities as exchanges expand across major financial centers.
0 Comments