Can you buy a Bitcoin ETF in Singapore?

Spot Bitcoin ETFs can't be listed in Singapore for retail investors, but you can buy US-listed ones through local brokers. Here's how it works and the trade-offs.

A Bitcoin ETF is a fund that holds bitcoin and trades on a stock exchange like any share. It lets you get exposure to Bitcoin's price without opening a crypto account or managing a wallet.

Can Singapore investors buy one?

Not on SGX, but yes overseas. In January 2024, MAS said it would not allow spot Bitcoin ETFs to be listed in Singapore for retail investors. However, retail investors can buy overseas-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs, such as those in the US, through licensed brokers in Singapore. Those brokers must explain the risks and check that the product suits you.

In practice, that usually means passing a short knowledge assessment before you can buy, because these are treated as complex products.

The best-known US Bitcoin ETFs

The US approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024. Some of the largest are run by well-known asset managers, such as BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC). We mention these as examples, not recommendations.

Pros

• No wallets, apps or recovery phrases. The fund holds the bitcoin.
• It sits in your normal brokerage account, next to your other investments.
• Big, well-known managers run the largest funds.

Cons

• A yearly fee, usually a fraction of a percent, taken from the fund.
• US trading hours only, which is night time in Singapore, while bitcoin itself trades 24/7.
• You don't own actual bitcoin. You can't move it to your own wallet or spend it.
• US estate tax: US-domiciled funds can expose non-US investors to US estate tax if holdings get large. Worth reading up on, or asking a professional, if you plan to invest a lot.
• The price risk is exactly the same. An ETF doesn't make Bitcoin less volatile.

Why ETF flows matter even if you never buy one

Money moving in and out of these ETFs has become one of the biggest drivers of Bitcoin's price. When investors put money in, the funds have to buy real bitcoin. When they pull money out, the funds sell. That's why our daily report tracks it. See what Bitcoin ETF flows are.

General information only, not financial advice.

General market information for education only, not financial advice. Crypto-assets are highly volatile; never risk money you can’t afford to lose.