The Association of Crypto-Currency Enterprises and Start-ups Singapore (ACCESS) today announced that it has adopted Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as strategic treasury reserve assets on its balance sheet, becoming the first non-profit digital asset industry association in the Asia-Pacific region to formally establish a digital asset treasury reserve.
The announcement comes as institutional adoption grows globally, with 197 public companies holding more than 1.26 million Bitcoin, valued at approximately US$80.66 billion as of 28 July 2026. As Singapore’s longest-running industry association, ACCESS has held Bitcoin and Ethereum as a community treasury for some years, and now formalises these holdings as strategic reserve assets under a board-approved policy framework with independent institutional custody. This reflects both ACCESS’s long-term commitment to the ecosystem it represents and its confidence in the enduring role of blockchain technology in the digital economy.
“ACCESS exists to advocate for the responsible adoption of digital assets. By formalising our holdings of Bitcoin and Ethereum as strategic reserves, with institutional custody and a rigorous oversight framework, we are demonstrating that non-profit organisations can engage with digital assets in a credible, transparent, and sustainable way. We hope this sets a template for associations and institutions across APAC.”
Chris Holland, Chairman of ACCESS
WHY NOW
As digital assets become increasingly integrated into financial markets, organisations are exploring how blockchain-native assets can be incorporated into treasury, governance, and long-term capital strategies. Alongside this evolution, expectations around transparency, oversight, and responsible stewardship continue to rise.
This reflects a broader evolution in the nature of money, from a passive store of value and medium of exchange into programmable financial infrastructure. Blockchain-native assets can be transferred and settled continuously, with transaction parameters defined at the underlying protocol and application level. In parallel, agentic AI systems are increasingly capable of initiating and executing financial decisions on behalf of organisations. Blockchain provides the infrastructure for these transactions to be recorded, verified and settled, while governance frameworks establish the parameters where technological autonomy is subject to effective oversight.
As a convening body for Singapore’s digital asset ecosystem, ACCESS believes industry leadership requires not only advocacy and education, but also the willingness to adopt and demonstrate responsible practices. As financial systems adapt to programmable money and the rise of agentic AI, expectations around custody, risk management, and transparency are rising in step. Through clear policy, independent custody and board oversight, ACCESS is positioned to translate these expectations into practice. The establishment of a governed treasury reserve provides a working model for responsible digital asset stewardship within a non-profit context.
A PRECEDENT FOR THE REGION
“As money becomes programmable and AI becomes agentic, the shift toward a financial system built on digital assets is accelerating. Institutions will need governance that determines not only how assets are held, but how people and software are authorised to transact. ACCESS is putting policy into practice through a digital asset treasury secured by independent custody and accountable to the Board, providing an early institutional use case for responsible digital asset governance in APAC.”
Katherine Ng, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Katashe Solutions
The ACCESS Board of Directors has formally approved the establishment of the BTC and ETH treasury reserve, anchored by a board-approved Investment Policy Statement (IPS) that defines asset selection, risk parameters, and reporting standards.
Research, due diligence, and documented recommendations are provided by a Crypto Treasury Working Group (“the Working Group”), with all treasury decisions reserved to the Board. An independent institutional custodian was appointed through a competitive Request for Proposal process to safeguard treasury assets under segregated custody structures.
Established by the ACCESS Board and convened with the leadership of Katashe Solutions, the Working Group brings together contributors across legal, insurance, custody infrastructure, and digital asset strategy, including Curia Regis, HM Strategy, Continuum Insure, Drew & Napier, BitGo, Lido Institutional, and other ecosystem participants. It operates under Board oversight and in coordination with ACCESS’s Digital Asset Management and Innovation & Collaboration Subcommittees.
The IPS framework includes:
- asset allocation and reserve strategy
- protocol and counterparty due diligence
- liquidity management and treasury deployment strategies
- asset protection and relevant liability coverage
ACCESS welcomes dialogue with other non-profit organisations, industry associations, and civic institutions across APAC to consider how digital assets might strengthen their financial sustainability and align their balance sheets with the industries they serve.
About ACCESS
ACCESS is Singapore’s longest-running non-profit association representing the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry. Founded in 2014 with just 7 pioneering members, ACCESS today supports an ecosystem of over 400 companies across the digital assets landscape. Its members span exchanges, digital payment service providers, blockchain developers, miners, and other industry participants, all united by a shared Code of Conduct and a commitment to advancing responsible innovation.
As a leading industry body, ACCESS convenes policymakers, regulators, and market participants to shape informed dialogue and advance a trusted and sustainable digital asset ecosystem that supports the next generation of digital public infrastructure. In doing so, ACCESS contributes to strengthening Singapore’s position as a global hub for digital assets.
For more information, visit https://access.org.sg