Capital.com has obtained a Capital Markets Services licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), establishing its first regulated foothold in Southeast Asia. The licence, granted to Capital Com Securities (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., authorises the firm to deal in capital markets products, including securities and over-the-counter derivatives contracts, according to a company statement released Monday.
The MAS Financial Institutions Directory confirms the entity is permitted to deal in securities, collective investment schemes, and OTC derivatives. It also lists Lim Ean Hien Tony as chief executive, with a registered address at 9 Battery Road. Capital.com, founded in 2016, already holds licences in the UK, the EU, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia.
Ex-IG Asia CEO to Lead Singapore Operations
Tony Lim joins as chief executive officer and executive director of the Singapore entity. With over three decades of experience in Singapore's capital markets, Lim's career includes stints at the Singapore International Monetary Exchange (SIMEX), Singapore Exchange, DBS Vickers Securities, and Saxo Capital Markets. Most recently, he served as chief executive of IG Asia, a role he held for nine years, as reported by Finance Magnates.
In the statement, Lim emphasised the immediate priorities: "Our focus over the coming months is on getting the foundations right, from onboarding and client protections to the education and market insight that help people understand risk before they act."
Valentina Rzheutskaya, executive director at Capital.com, highlighted the rigour of the MAS licensing process, noting it "examines every part of a firm's governance, controls and capital." She added that holding a licence in Singapore means operating to that standard locally, with supervision of client onboarding, risk communication, and safeguarding of client assets.
Client Onboarding Scheduled for Early 2027
Capital.com will not immediately accept Singapore clients. The company said onboarding is scheduled for early 2027, allowing the local team to prepare the platform and services to meet regulatory and operational requirements. These include identity verification through Singpass MyInfo, full client verification before trading, and mandatory two-factor authentication at sign-in.
The firm has opened an office in Raffles Place, with local staff covering compliance, operations, client services, and marketing. When onboarding begins, Singapore clients will have access to the same decision-support tools as the wider Capital.com platform, including market analysis, in-app explainers, charting, and risk controls such as stop-loss orders. Further details on the Singapore platform are expected closer to launch.
Capital.com will enter a competitive local market. For readers weighing their options in the meantime, Invezz tracks the CFD brokers licensed to serve Singapore clients and the wider set of trading platforms already available in Singapore.
Custody Licence Reports Unconfirmed
Some media reports, including Reuters and DealStreetAsia, suggested the licence also covers custodial services. However, neither Capital.com's announcement nor the MAS register entry, as reviewed on Monday, lists custody among the entity's regulated activities. Both refer solely to dealing in capital markets products.
Singapore's licensing regime has been tightened in recent years, particularly for leveraged products and digital assets. Winning a licence there is often seen as a signal of a firm's compliance standing in the wider region.
Capital.com said it will participate in the Singapore FinTech Festival from November 18 to 20. Its launch timetable and the scope of products offered to local clients will be the next details to watch.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
