The 2025 edition of TOKEN2049 Singapore confirmed once again why it has become the most important global gathering for the digital assets industry.
Held on October 1–2 at Marina Bay Sands, the event brought together an estimated 25,000 participants from more than 160 countries, alongside 500 exhibitors and over a thousand side events that spread across Singapore during the week.
Crypto Reporter’s editorial team was on site, covering the event’s highlights — from groundbreaking product launches to late-night networking sessions that blurred the line between conference and festival.
Institutional capital takes center stage
This year’s discussions revolved around a clear message: crypto is no longer an experiment — it is becoming an institutional asset class.
Executives from major exchanges, funds, and financial service providers echoed this sentiment, pointing to growing open interest in derivatives and the rise of yield-bearing instruments tied to real-world assets (RWAs).
Tim McCourt, Global Head of CME Group, noted that open interest in crypto derivatives has reached record highs, underscoring the shift toward professionalized markets.
Meanwhile, several panels examined how stablecoins and tokenized assets are evolving into the backbone of global payments and corporate treasuries.
Major announcements and product launches
Several announcements stood out during the two-day conference:
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Mega Matrix Inc. (NASDAQ: MPU) unveiled its new Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) strategy, signaling an institutional approach to stablecoin-denominated reserves and tokenized yield products.
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Interlace, a Singapore-based card issuance and payments infrastructure provider, announced it had surpassed 6 million issued cards, serving over 12,000 enterprise clients across 180+ jurisdictions. The company aims to link on-chain assets with global retail payment rails.
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In a more controversial appearance, A7A5, a rouble-pegged stablecoin under Western sanctions, was briefly listed among TOKEN2049 sponsors and represented on stage by its regulatory director. Following media scrutiny, organizers later removed all references to the project from the official site. The incident highlighted the growing tension between crypto inclusivity and compliance risk at major industry events.
Experience meets finance
Beyond the conference halls, TOKEN2049 expanded into a city-wide festival of innovation and lifestyle.
Attendees networked over zip lines, wellness lounges, cryotherapy booths, and DJ-backed social events, culminating in a series of afterparties that stretched well into the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
This hybrid of finance, culture, and entertainment is now a hallmark of TOKEN2049, where conversations about DeFi protocols, token standards, and global regulation share space with immersive experiences and brand showcases.
Speakers and personalities
The speaker lineup underscored the event’s growing mainstream appeal.
Among the high-profile names were:
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Vlad Tenev, CEO and Chairman of Robinhood, discussing the convergence of retail and institutional crypto markets.
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Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, who predicted that the coming market cycle will be “defined by tokenized debt and AI-driven capital.”
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Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, elaborating on how the company’s infrastructure will support new forms of on-chain liquidity.
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Donald Trump Jr., appearing in connection with World Liberty Financial, drew crowds that highlighted crypto’s expanding intersection with politics and media.
TOKEN2049’s blend of visionaries, investors, and public figures has made it the Davos of digital assets — where strategic alliances and capital commitments often originate behind closed doors.
Looking ahead
TOKEN2049 Singapore 2025 reaffirmed the industry’s momentum as it moves deeper into the mainstream. The convergence of tokenization, regulated stablecoins, and institutional adoption now defines the new phase of crypto evolution.
As Arthur Hayes put it, “This isn’t about the next bull run — it’s about building the financial infrastructure of the next decade.”
For the Crypto Reporter team on the ground, the message was clear: the crypto economy has entered its most serious and self-aware chapter yet — and Singapore remains its most vibrant stage.