Quick answer
Singapore has no capital gains tax, so in 2026 you pay 0% on crypto you hold and sell as a long-term investment. Gains become taxable income only if you trade as a business, mine commercially, or receive tokens as pay. That income is taxed at 0% to 24% for individuals or 17% for companies. Buying and selling payment tokens carries no GST.
Last reviewed: November 2026 · Reviewed by Stéphane Gombauld, tax expert, technologist and digital nomad
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Find my savings →You hold Bitcoin, Ether or stablecoins and you live in Singapore, or are thinking of moving there. This guide shows what IRAS actually taxes in 2026, where the line between investing and trading sits, and how to keep your bill at zero legally.
Singapore cryptocurrency taxes in 2026: the key figures
| Situation | Tax in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Selling crypto held as a long-term investment | 0% – no capital gains tax |
| Trading crypto as a business (individual) | Income tax at resident rates, 0% to 24% |
| Trading crypto through a Singapore company | 17% corporate tax, with partial exemptions on the first S$200,000 |
| Salary or fees paid in tokens | Taxed on the market value when received |
| Mining as a business | Taxable trading income; expenses deductible |
| GST on buying or selling digital payment tokens | Exempt since 1 January 2020 |
| Non-residents | Taxed only on Singapore-sourced trading or service income, not on investment gains |
| Record-keeping period | 5 years |
Is this guide for you?
Read on if you…
- are a Singapore resident, or moving there, with crypto you may sell in 2026;
- trade often, run bots or earn staking and DeFi rewards;
- are paid in stablecoins or tokens by an employer or clients.
Probably not your case if you…
- run an exchange or wallet business – that is a MAS licensing and corporate tax topic;
- need the rules for shares, funds and property – see capital gains tax in Singapore.
Is crypto taxed in Singapore?
Usually not. Singapore taxes income, not capital gains. Section 10 of the Income Tax Act taxes gains from a trade or business, but a gain on the sale of a capital asset is outside its scope.
IRAS set out its view in its e-Tax Guide Income Tax Treatment of Digital Tokens. It sorts tokens into three groups:
- Payment tokens like Bitcoin and Ether: treated as intangible property, not currency.
- Utility tokens: give access to a product or service.
- Security tokens: behave like shares or bonds and follow their tax treatment.
For payment tokens, everything comes back to one question. Are you an investor – someone holding for the long term – or a trader running a business?
How much you really pay, by asset type
| Asset | Held as an investment | Traded as a business |
|---|---|---|
| Shares and ETFs | 0% | Income tax, 0% to 24% |
| Investment funds | 0% (distributions often exempt for individuals) | Income tax, 0% to 24% |
| Crypto (payment tokens) | 0% | Income tax, 0% to 24% |
| Residential property | 0% income tax, but Seller's Stamp Duty if sold within four years of purchase | Income tax on property trading profits |
Seller's Stamp Duty is a stamp duty, not an income tax. For homes bought from 4 July 2025, it runs from 16% if you sell in the first year down to 4% in the fourth.
When does crypto become taxable income?
IRAS uses the badges of trade – a set of factors courts use to tell an investor from a trader. No single factor decides. IRAS looks at the overall picture.
- Frequency and volume: dozens of trades a month look like a business.
- Holding period: days or weeks point to trading; years point to investing.
- Intention at purchase: buying to flip quickly is a trading sign.
- Organisation: bots, leverage, borrowed money and trading software suggest a business.
- Your profession: a professional trader or fund manager is more likely to be trading.
Honestly? For most people who buy and hold, the answer is simple: no tax. The risk starts when crypto becomes your main source of income.
Other crypto income
- Pay in tokens: salary, bonuses or freelance fees paid in crypto are taxed like cash, at market value when received.
- Mining: commercial mining is a business. Hobby mining is generally not taxed until it looks commercial.
- Staking, lending and airdrops: IRAS has not issued detailed rules for every case. Rewards linked to a business or to services you provide are likely taxable.
- Tokens received for services: taxed on their value when you receive them.
Residents vs non-residents: who pays what?
Investment gains are untaxed for everyone. The difference lies in trading or service income.
- Residents: trading income is taxed at progressive rates of 0% to 24%, with personal reliefs. Foreign-sourced income received by resident individuals is generally exempt.
- Non-residents: taxed only on Singapore-sourced income, at 24% for most non-employment income. A gain from investment crypto is not taxed.
- Companies: trading profits are taxed at 17%. Since 2024, section 10L can tax gains from selling foreign assets, including digital tokens, if the company lacks economic substance in Singapore.
Here's the catch with companies: a Singapore company that only holds crypto may have no substance. Read corporate income tax in Singapore before using one.
Leaving? Singapore has no exit tax on crypto. Your gains only become an issue in your next country. See our guide on ceasing Singapore tax residency.
How do you pay less on crypto, legally?
- Keep a long-term profile. Hold for months or years, avoid high-frequency trading in your personal name.
- Separate wallets. One for long-term holdings, one for any active trading. It makes your intention visible.
- Document everything. Dates, prices, wallet addresses and why you bought. Keep it for five years.
- Use a company only with substance. Real staff, decisions and premises in Singapore. Otherwise section 10L or another country's rules can catch the gains.
- Watch your next move. If you plan to leave, sell before becoming resident in a country that taxes crypto gains.
What reporting is coming?
Singapore's crypto service providers are regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Since 30 June 2025, firms serving only overseas clients also need a licence.
Singapore has committed to the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), a system where exchanges report users' transactions to tax authorities, who share them abroad. The first exchanges of information are expected from 2028. Assume your home country will see your holdings.
Compare with neighbours: crypto taxes in Hong Kong follow a similar capital-versus-trading logic, while crypto taxes in Thailand work very differently.
Example – Mei, Malaysian product designer and long-term holder
Mei has lived in Singapore since 2023. She bought 2 BTC in 2021 and sells 0.5 BTC in March 2026 for about S$70,000, with a S$45,000 gain. She trades only a few times a year and holds for years. IRAS sees her as an investor: tax on the gain is S$0. Her salary is taxed as usual. Had she run a daily trading bot with leverage, the gain would be income. On top of her S$80,000 chargeable salary, that means about S$5,350 of extra tax.
Mei's S$45,000 gain cost nothing because her profile was clear. Is yours?
Find my savings and check whether my crypto counts as investment or trading.
Find my savings →Common mistakes (and what they cost)
- Trading daily in your own name → IRAS can treat all profits as income, taxed up to 24%, plus penalties if undeclared.
- Not declaring salary paid in stablecoins → you underreport employment income and face penalties of up to 200% of the tax undercharged.
- Using a shell company to hold crypto → section 10L or your home country's rules can tax the gains anyway.
- Keeping no records → you cannot prove your holding period, and IRAS may assume trading.
- Forgetting your next country → you sell after moving and pay that country's capital gains tax.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay tax on Bitcoin gains in Singapore?
Not if you hold Bitcoin as a long-term investment. Singapore has no capital gains tax, so gains on investment crypto are not taxed in 2026. If you trade as a business, with frequent trades, short holding periods or leverage, IRAS treats the profits as income taxed at your personal rates, from 0% to 24%.
Is there GST on buying crypto in Singapore?
No. Since 1 January 2020, the exchange of digital payment tokens such as Bitcoin for fiat or other tokens is exempt from GST. Fees charged by exchanges or wallet providers for their services can still carry GST at 9%. Using crypto to pay for goods does not remove GST on the goods themselves.
Is crypto staking income taxable in Singapore?
IRAS has not set out detailed rules for every type of staking reward. Rewards earned as part of a business, or for services such as validation, are likely taxable as income when received. Small rewards from passive holding are less clear. If staking is a material part of your income, get the position confirmed.
Do non-residents pay tax on crypto in Singapore?
Non-residents are taxed only on income sourced in Singapore. Gains on crypto held as an investment are not taxed, wherever you live. If a non-resident runs a crypto trading business in Singapore, the profits are Singapore-sourced and taxable, generally at 24%. Your country of residence may tax the gains as well.
How do I report crypto income to IRAS?
Report trading profits as trade income, and crypto salary as employment income, in your annual return on myTax Portal. Investment gains do not need to be reported as income. Keep records of each transaction, valuation and wallet for five years, so you can show IRAS the nature of your activity if asked.
Can I move to Singapore to avoid crypto tax?
You can legally become a Singapore resident and hold crypto without capital gains tax, but you need a valid pass and a real stay. Your previous country may still apply an exit tax or keep you resident. Plan the timing of disposals with both countries' rules in mind, not just Singapore's.
Related guides
- Capital gains tax in Singapore
- Corporate income tax in Singapore
- How to cease your Singapore tax residency
- Tax fraud regulations of Singapore
- Tax residency rules in Singapore
- Singapore tax landscape overview
- All country tax guides
Sources
- IRAS – Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
- IRAS – Individual income tax
- Singapore Statutes Online – Income Tax Act 1947
- Monetary Authority of Singapore
- OECD – Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework
This guide is general information, not personalised tax advice. See how we research and review.
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