Malaysia plans to allow exchanges to independently list tokens starting in 2026

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has proposed that, starting in 2026, licensed cryptocurrency exchanges will be able to independently approve token listings without needing to obtain regulatory approval for each one. This move aims to modernize Malaysia's digital asset market, expand investor access, and provide exchanges with greater operational flexibility.

Under the new framework, exchanges will be responsible for assessing the compliance of tokens and adhering to higher governance, security, and transparency requirements to ensure investor protection. This reform is expected to shorten the token listing time, increase the variety of assets available to investors, and promote Malaysia as a digital asset hub in Southeast Asia.