The financial landscape in Asia is witnessing a pivotal shift as traditional market infrastructure embraces digital innovation. Singapore Exchange (SGX) through its index arm, SGX Index Edge, has announced a strategic collaboration with CryptoCompare, a leading global provider of cryptocurrency market data, to launch the first-ever cryptocurrency indices under the iEdge index series. This marks SGX’s official entry into the digital asset class, expanding its suite of financial benchmarks tailored for institutional and retail investors across the Asia-Pacific region.
This partnership is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific, setting a new precedent for how regulated exchanges can integrate blockchain-based assets into mainstream financial products. The initial rollout includes two flagship indices: the iEdge Bitcoin Index and the iEdge Ethereum Index, designed to provide transparent, reliable, and real-time performance tracking of the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
A Strategic Move into Digital Assets
Simon Karaban, Head of Index Services at Singapore Exchange, emphasized the growing importance of digital assets in modern wealth creation.
"As the world rapidly digitizes wealth creation and accumulation, digital assets are increasingly being adopted by investors. We’re pleased to partner with CryptoCompare to deliver a new set of indices that enhance innovation and meet market demand across Asia."
The move aligns with SGX’s broader strategy to diversify its offerings beyond equities, fixed income, and derivatives, positioning itself as a forward-thinking exchange at the intersection of traditional finance and emerging technologies.
👉 Discover how institutional-grade crypto indices are reshaping investment strategies in Asia.
Why This Partnership Matters
CryptoCompare brings unparalleled expertise in aggregating and analyzing high-frequency market data from over 500 globally recognized exchanges. With coverage of more than 4,200 tokens and 195,000 currency pairs, it delivers granular insights across trading activity, blockchain transactions, social sentiment, and historical trends.
James Harris, Commercial Director at CryptoCompare, highlighted the mission behind the collaboration:
"Our goal is to provide high-quality, reliable data and indices that bring greater transparency to the digital asset class. We’re excited to work with SGX to make institutional-grade digital asset products from Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange accessible to a global investor base."
By combining SGX’s regulatory credibility and market reach with CryptoCompare’s robust data infrastructure, this alliance aims to bridge the gap between crypto markets and traditional finance — offering clarity in an often volatile and fragmented ecosystem.
Rising Demand for Crypto-Linked Financial Products
The demand for regulated crypto investment vehicles has surged in recent years. According to CryptoCompare research, global assets under management (AUM) in digital asset tracking funds grew from $220 million in March 2017** to **over $4.5 billion by June 2020, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 148%.
While North America and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) currently dominate AUM, Asia plays a critical role in market liquidity. Notably:
- Asia accounts for 43% of global fiat-to-cryptocurrency spot trading volume
- Strong retail participation and mobile-first adoption patterns
- Growing interest from institutional players in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore
This partnership positions SGX to capture a larger share of the global digital asset AUM by offering region-specific indices that reflect local market dynamics while meeting international standards.
Expanding the iEdge Index Series
Over the past four years, SGX Index Edge has developed a diverse range of indices covering thematic investing, smart beta strategies, futures, fixed income, and multi-asset solutions. The addition of cryptocurrency indices underscores its commitment to innovation and responsiveness to evolving investor needs.
These new indices will serve as foundational benchmarks for potential future financial products such as:
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Structured notes
- Derivatives contracts
- Index-linked insurance products
Their design emphasizes accuracy, resilience against manipulation, and compliance with international index standards — key factors for institutional adoption.
👉 Learn how next-generation indices are enabling safer crypto exposure for mainstream investors.
FAQ: Understanding the SGX-CryptoCompare Cryptocurrency Indices
1. What are the iEdge Bitcoin and iEdge Ethereum Indices?
These are real-time, rules-based benchmarks that track the performance of Bitcoin and Ethereum using aggregated price data from major global exchanges. They are designed to reflect fair market value while minimizing volatility caused by outliers or illiquid platforms.
2. Why are these indices significant for Asian investors?
They represent the first institutional-grade crypto indices developed in partnership with a major Asian exchange. This provides regional investors with trusted reference points for evaluating crypto performance and developing compliant investment products.
3. How does CryptoCompare ensure data accuracy?
CryptoCompare aggregates tick-level data from over 500 vetted exchanges, applies proprietary cleansing algorithms, and uses volume-weighted pricing models to filter out anomalies and prevent manipulation.
4. Can these indices be used for financial products like ETFs?
Yes. These indices are structured to meet regulatory and operational requirements for use as underlying benchmarks in ETFs, futures contracts, structured products, and other regulated instruments.
5. Are other cryptocurrencies planned for future indices?
While the initial focus is on Bitcoin and Ethereum — which together represent the majority of the crypto market — SGX and CryptoCompare may expand the series to include altcoins or thematic baskets (e.g., DeFi, Web3) based on market demand.
6. How do these indices support financial innovation in Asia?
By providing transparent, auditable benchmarks, they reduce barriers to entry for asset managers and financial institutions looking to offer crypto-related products within regulated frameworks.
The Road Ahead for Digital Asset Integration
The collaboration between SGX Index Edge and CryptoCompare signals a maturing relationship between traditional finance and digital assets in Asia. As regulatory clarity improves and investor appetite grows, such partnerships will play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of financial products.
SGX’s strong reputation for risk management, coupled with its AAA-rated operational environment, adds an essential layer of trust — something often missing in decentralized ecosystems. Meanwhile, CryptoCompare’s data integrity ensures that these indices remain accurate, transparent, and resilient.
👉 Explore how trusted financial institutions are integrating crypto into their core offerings.
This initiative not only broadens investment opportunities but also promotes greater market stability by anchoring speculative assets to reliable benchmarks. It sets a blueprint for other exchanges in the region to follow — blending innovation with oversight.
Core Keywords (Naturally Integrated Throughout):
- SGX Index Edge
- CryptoCompare
- cryptocurrency indices
- iEdge Bitcoin Index
- iEdge Ethereum Index
- digital asset class
- institutional-grade crypto
- Asia-Pacific financial innovation
With this launch, SGX reinforces its position as Asia’s most international multi-asset exchange — now extending its reach into one of the fastest-growing corners of global finance.