On July 3, 2025, Bitstamp, acquired by Robinhood for $200 million in June 2024, obtained a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), enabling expanded cryptocurrency (CCY) services in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This license allows Bitstamp to offer digital payment token services, including trading and staking for assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum, without transaction volume limits, positioning it to compete in Singapore’s thriving crypto hub.
The MPI license underscores Bitstamp’s commitment to regulatory adherence, leveraging its 50+ global licenses, including MiCA in Europe and registrations in the U.S. and U.K. “We understand the region and work diligently to build trust through responsive, face-to-face collaboration,” said a Bitstamp spokeswoman. With a committed staff in Singapore, Bitstamp improves its infrastructure by providing a matching engine driven by the Nasdaq, 99.9% uptime, and ISO/IEC 27001 security requirements, which appeal to both institutional and retail customers.
Robinhood’s acquisition fuels Bitstamp’s APAC growth, integrating Robinhood’s $1B Q4 2024 revenue and user base with Bitstamp’s deep liquidity ($300M daily trading volume) and USDC-based services. The license enables Bitstamp to bypass Singapore’s high transaction thresholds (e.g., 3M SGD monthly), fostering partnerships with local banks and payment providers. This puts Bitstamp in opposition to rivals like Coinbase and OKX and is consistent with U.S. pro-crypto laws like the GENIUS Act, in contrast to Hungary’s rejection of the BTC reserve.
The license is expected to boost BTC and Ethereum liquidity in APAC, with historical trends showing licensed exchanges driving 15-20% institutional inflow increases post-approval (e.g., MiCA in Europe). Bitstamp’s plans for tokenized stock trading (e.g., OpenAI, SpaceX) and derivatives could deepen market integration, though challenges include navigating Singapore’s cultural nuances and competition. Amid global liquidity surges ($113T M2), Bitstamp’s compliance strengthens its role in a projected $3.7T stablecoin market by 2030, enhancing investor confidence.
