With over 98% of adult residents holding bank accounts, Singapore is one of the most financially inclusive countries in the world. As a result, crypto’s role as a tool for the unbanked is limited in this market. Instead, its value lies in offering alternative ways to grow, manage, and participate in an evolving financial ecosystem.
The Independent Reserve Cryptocurrency Index 2026 found that most Singaporeans believe crypto has a role to play in the financial system, either by complementing or integrating with existing structures. Only a minority (20%) view it as irrelevant.
Role of crypto in the financial system
| An alternative investment asset | 44% |
| An alternative to money | 38% |
| A tool for cross-border transactions | 24% |
| Hybrid bridging traditional and decentralised finance | 22% |
| Tool for innovation | 18% |
| Serving the unbanked | 14% |
| None of the above | 20% |
While investors and non-investors broadly align on crypto’s role as an alternative investment, investors are far more likely to see crypto as a functional financial tool, whereas non-investors tend to view it as speculative or not relevant at all, with 27% selecting “none of the above” compared to just 6% of investors.
This divergence is most pronounced in real-world use cases, including:
- Cross-border payments (+16pp)
- Innovation or technology tool (+15pp)
- Bridging traditional and digital finance (+14pp)
How crypto investors view crypto’s role in the financial system
Perception moves with experience
There is a clear evolution in how crypto is perceived as investors gain experience. Newer investors (<2yrs) are more likely to see crypto as an alternative to money compared to experienced investors (>6yrs) – 52% vs 34%. At the same time, perceptions of crypto as a tool for innovation and as a bridge between traditional and digital finance increase with experience, reaching 46% and 55% respectively among those with over 10 years in the market. This suggests that as Singaporean investors mature, their confidence shifts away from price-driven thinking towards a deeper conviction in crypto’s role in reshaping the financial system.
59% of Singaporean crypto investors view crypto as important for long-term wealth building. Young millennials emerge as the conviction leaders, with 66% viewing crypto as important to their portfolios, of whom 24% consider it “very important.” This strong conviction likely stems from relatively modest accumulated capital and market experience, where the benefits of long-term compounding still feel tangible.
Conversely, the older millennials are the least confident, with fewer expressing positive views and more feeling unsure. This may reflect past experiences with crypto that were tougher, combined with greater financial responsibilities at this stage of life.
Importance of crypto in long-term wealth building by age
The proof of the pudding
Experience builds confidence rather than scepticism. New investors with less than a year of experience are more evenly split, with 49% positive and 36% negative views, but this shifts over time. Among seasoned crypto investors (with more than 6 years of experience), 60% show stronger belief in its long-term value.
Positive sentiment from the crypto investing experience
Crypto is here to stay
About one in three Singaporeans believes crypto is likely or very likely to become widely accepted by businesses and everyday people in the future, unchanged from 2025. This belief is much stronger among those with direct experience. More than half of crypto investors (56%) expect widespread adoption, nearly double the overall rate, showing that confidence tends to build through participation.
That confidence also deepens over time. Among investors, belief rises with experience, peaking at 63% among those with 3 to 5 years in the market. A similar pattern is seen across age groups. Younger Singaporeans show stronger early conviction, with Gen Z (39%) almost twice as likely as Boomers (21%) to believe crypto will become widely accepted, pointing to growing generational momentum behind adoption.
Will crypto be widely accepted in the future: Crypto investors vs non-investors
Confidence remains solid among crypto investors. The majority of crypto investors plan to increase their involvement in crypto or hold their crypto assets, while only 5% intend to sell out entirely. 31% intend to hold their crypto investments.
On future use cases, the mood is pragmatic, not speculative. The top two intended uses for current crypto owners are trading for financial gains (42%) and saving for the future (41%), followed by pursuing financial independence (32%). More ecosystem-related activities, such as DAO participation (10%), blockchain games (8%), and metaverse participation (9%), sit near the bottom. This suggests that confidence in crypto today is driven by its clear, immediate value as an investment, providing a strong foundation for broader adoption over time.
How current crypto holders plan to use their crypto
Bitcoin price predictions
What Singaporeans expect by 2030
Overall, expectations for Bitcoin’s value have risen steadily each year. The share of respondents expecting Bitcoin to remain below S$50,000 by 2030 fell from 57% in 2023 to just 23% in 2026.
Higher price expectations have strengthened considerably. The S$100,000–S$250,000 range more than quadrupled, rising from 9% in 2023 to 38% in 2026, making it the most popular prediction. Those expecting prices above S$250,000 also grew more than eightfold, from 3% to 26% over the same period.
This upward shift is likely driven by Bitcoin’s price performance, particularly the 2025 rally past S$160,000. ETF approvals have also improved access and liquidity. Growing institutional adoption has further reinforced positive sentiment.
Bitcoin price predictions: 2020-2026
