Australian crypto-asset firm Monochrome Group has registered its Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs with Singapore's Monetary Authority, marking a strategic expansion into Southeast Asian markets amid growing institutional demand for regulated digital asset products.
"We're bringing Monochrome to South East Asia, starting with getting the first Australian Bitcoin ETF registered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore," Jeff Yew CEO told Decrypt.
The firm's Bitcoin ETF (IBTC) and Ethereum ETF (IETH) secured registration as restricted schemes, enabling access for accredited or institutional investors through Singapore's regulated financial framework, which places a minimum of S$200,000 per transaction.
The new products are designed to meet the needs of institutions in different parts of Asia. They allow for both Bitcoin subscriptions as well as cash redemptions.
"It's not about chasing price moves—it's about building real infrastructure and giving institutions, investors, and even governments better access to Bitcoin," Yew was reflecting on the market collapse that occurred Sunday, which caused over 2 billion dollars in liquidations.
Monochrome's expansion includes a strategic partnership with Anadara Capital to strengthen institutional services. BitGo Trust Company was added to the company’s infrastructure for both ETFs, which addressed security concerns that are common among institutional investors.
In order to improve regulatory compliance, and engage with the institutions it works with, this Australian company plans on opening regional offices in 2025.
In October last year, the firm worked on launching Australia's first "true" Ethereum ETF Cboe.
Cutting Through the Noise
Monochrome's expansion into Southeast Asia with regulated crypto ETFs from Singapore arrives amid broader market turbulence, including trade tensions impacting traditional assets like equities and currencies.
IBTC/IETH are becoming more popular as institutions view regulated digital assets products like IBTC/IETH as portfolio hedges to protect against macroeconomic and geopolitical instability.
You can also find out more about the following: The crypto-market bloodbath According to CoinGecko, the market capitalization of Bitcoin has dropped by 11.4% in the past 24 hours.
"We've seen Bitcoin go through every kind of macro cycle over the years—it's built for this," Yew "Institutional investors don't get caught in short-term noise, that's why we're focused on fundamentals and expanding access to the asset where it's needed most."
The move aligns with Asia's growing role as a crypto regulatory hub while Western markets face political uncertainty over digital asset policies.
Monochrome's MAS-approved ETFs provide a blueprint for integrating crypto into mainstream finance through rigorous compliance frameworks, contrasting with ad-hoc approaches in volatile jurisdictions.
Yew describes Bitcoins as “a” "unique commodity" Who? "short-term volatility" It is a good idea to use a bilingual translator "purely caused by fluctuations in demand."
Yew sees recent macromarket fluctuations as having a ‘negative impact’ on the economy. "no cause or impact to the underlying supply or protocol rigidity."
Sebastian Sinclair is the editor