自2008年第一个数字货币比特币诞生以来，区块链技术在各个领域的应用都有了长足的发展。新加坡作为亚洲金融中心之一，也吸引了众多软件技术人员和投资者从事区块链技术相关的金融行业，包括NFT （非同质化代币）。NFT 市场既可以是Axie Infinity这种可以赚取数字资产的游戏平台，也可以是NBA TopShot 这种收藏品交易平台，还可以是Decentraland 和Earth 2这种可以进行数字财产买卖的元宇宙平台。
An Overview on Development and Regulations of Blockchain Technology and NFTs in Singapore
Since the birth of the first digital currency, Bitcoin, in 2008, blockchain technology has developed significantly in various fields. As one of the financial hubs of Asia, Singapore has also attracted a wide range of software professionals and investors in the financial services industry involving blockchain technologies and nonfungible tokens (NFT). NFT marketplaces can be either gaming platforms for earning digital assets like Axie Infinity, collectibles trading platforms like NBA TopShot or metaverse platforms like Decentraland and Earth 2 where virtual properties can be bought and sold.
MAS amends Sections 13O & 13U Application Guidelines for Family Offices in Singapore
MAS Amends Sections 13O and 13U Application Guidelines for Family Offices in Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has amended its requirements for family offices[1] applying for tax incentive schemes pursuant to Sections 13O and 13U of the Income Tax Act 1947 (the Act). The following amended policies apply to all first preliminary submissions received by MAS on or after 18 April 2022 for these schemes, and MAS may require applications that have received no communication from MAS for a span of at least six months to be resubmitted under the amended guidelines. The following applications are not subject to the amended policies:
SPAC Listings
Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs, or “blank check” companies), which are shell companies set up with the sole purpose of raising funds through an initial public offering (IPO) to acquire an existing target company, have seen a dramatic rise in the past year. High levels of liquidity and persistently low interest rates, coupled with a growing appetite among investors for higher-yielding investment opportunities, have fuelled the rising interest in SPACs. According to resource website SpacInsider, which tracks these investment vehicles, 248 SPAC IPOs were completed in the last year alone, raising US$83 billion, compared with 216 from 2009 to 2019. This article discusses the features of SPACs, its benefits and risks, trends in Asia as well as the future for SPACs in Singapore.
Effective Estate Planning
The thought of estate planning often brings to mind your will and your legacy. As you have spent your entire life on the acquisition, management and preservation of your wealth of assets for the benefit of your loved ones you leave behind, shouldn’t you pay as much attention to the prudent distribution of your assets upon your demise to ensure that your wishes are effective in bringing about the desired result and minimize the burden on your loved ones who inherit your assets? Of particular concern here is the legacy involving real estate property and joint bank accounts. The key to effective estate planning is knowing how the manner of holding such assets in the first place affects the right to transfer them upon death.