The five machines, mostly located in malls around Singapore, offered people a convenient way to buy tokens like Bitcoin and Ether using fiat currency. But the notion of a fast and easy way into crypto trading for retail investors didn’t sit well with regulators, who explicitly mentioned the ATMs in guidelines released Monday.
Such offerings could encourage people to trade “on impulse,” the MAS said. Daenerys said it’s keeping the ATMs closed while seeking clarification from the central bank. Another operator, Deodi Pte., shut down its sole machine on Tuesday, it said on its website.
Singapore is far from alone in seeking to prevent citizens from being burned by the notoriously volatile nature of cryptocurrenies. Its missive came after Bitcoin hit a rough patch, tumbling almost 40% from a November peak.
The UK this week proposed tougher rules on billboards that have popped up across the London subway. Spain’s markets regulator has asked that campaigns for digital assets carry a warning to investors that they risk losing all their money.
See also: Alexander Hamilton’s three lessons for stablecoins
Daenerys is among more than 100 firms operating various services related to crypto during a grace period while waiting for the MAS to conclude a licensing process.
Photo: Bloomberg
