Why Singapore

Why we think Singapore's the best place to be if you're building in web3.

• One of the largest, most engaged, and most supportive web3 founder communities globally. Between SG Builders, Arc, and the other communities here, there's anywhere from 3-5 public events per week and lots more informal meetups and hangouts. But most importantly, Singapore's culture around building is predicated on supporting and sharing, not tearing others down.

• Extremely safe. You can walk alone down a dark alley at 3am without even thinking something might happen to you.

• Nonstop flights to virtually every destination in the world, and right in the heart of SEA. Fly to any other SEA hub for ~$50-100.

• A top tier talent pool. Singapore engineering and BD talent isn't cheap, but it's quality -- in part because Google, Apple, Meta, Bytedance, etc have had thousands in Singapore for many years now, not to mention the hundreds of crypto companies with operations here.

• Fast and straightforward work visa process. Singapore uses a points-based system for employment passes (EPs) and the process can take 2-4 weeks.

• Reasonable cost of living for a 1st tier technology and financial hub. Less than half of the cost of living of Silicon Valley, New York City, and Dubai, 10-15% less than Hong Kong, and not far above nomad hubs like Lisbon and Berlin but with less than half the tax rate, Singapore offers connectivity and opportunity for a reasonable cost of living.

• It's the best place for most crypto companies to set up their entities. Among tier 1 financial hubs, the cost of legal, accounting, and entity management services in Singapore is among the lowest (if not the lowest overall). You can actually use your lawyer and not be worried you're setting your cash on fire. For payments, Singapore's got excellent on-and-offramps for crypto, the neobanks can get you a SGD/USD account in days, and OTC desks are plentiful. The Singapore court system is reliable -- it's based on British common law, shares lots of similarities with commonwealth countries, and is particularly good when it comes to contract law (much more straightforward than US law).