A new retail-finance survey out of Singapore reveals a major shift in how everyday investors choose their crypto exchanges. While low fees once dominated the conversation, trust and platform security have now become the top priority for most participants in the country's rapidly maturing digital-asset market.

The study shows that two-thirds of respondents now value trust and security over trading costs when selecting an exchange. This shift highlights how repeated market shocks, from global exchange failures to rising regulatory scrutiny, have pushed reputational strength ahead of low-cost trading as the defining factor for user confidence. For many investors, safety has become non-negotiable.

Crypto ownership in Singapore remains remarkably high, with 61% of surveyed individuals holding digital assets. Yet despite strong adoption, most investors continue to maintain relatively small exposure levels. Roughly 74% keep crypto allocations below 10% of their total portfolio, typically ranging between 6% and 12%. The data suggests that while crypto has entered the mainstream, it remains a supplementary asset rather than a core holding for most households.

The report also indicates that 58% of crypto users prefer to hold their assets long term rather than engage in active trading. This tendency toward long-term positioning reflects a broader belief in crypto's future value and a reluctance to attempt short-term market timing, especially in a year marked by volatility and shifting economic conditions.

Perhaps most striking is the finding that 62% of participants rely on social media as their main source of crypto knowledge. While platforms like X, YouTube, and Telegram offer rapid access to news and analysis, the report also underscores the heightened risk of misinformation that accompanies this trend. For regulators and financial educators, this remains an ongoing challenge.