Alexander Yap
Partner
Alexander is the Co-Head of the Firm’s FinTech Practice and a Partner in the Technology & Corporate Intellectual Property Practice. He advises on three key pillars:
- the acquisition, divestiture, provision, sharing, and receipt, of data, technology and intellectual property-related services and assets, including cryptographic tokens and digital assets;
- data breach and cybersecurity strategy, communications, management and compliance; and
- emerging and frontier technologies, such as autonomous driving, metaverses, large language models, transformer neural networks, and generative AI.
He advises on licensing, research & development, sponsorships, collaborations, franchising, online gaming, ‘as-a-service’ platforms (IaaS, PaaS, etc.), and on consumer-facing agreements and activities, such as lotteries and other promotions in compliance with gaming/gambling legislation.
Alexander is recommended by Who’s Who Legal: Data 2023 and Who’s Who Legal: Fintech 2023, where a client commented “I am impressed by the no-nonsense, 'to-the-point' manner in which he addresses complex queries”. He is also recognised as a ‘Notable Practitioner’ in IFLR1000, and a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in The Legal 500.
Alexander contributed to the Personal Data Protection Commission’s PDP Digest, the Singapore chapter of Proskauer on Privacy published by the Practising Law Institute, and is co-author of the Singapore chapter of the International Encyclopedia of Agency Distribution Agreements published by Kluwer Law International.
Work Highlights
- Advised one of a consortium of financial institutions on the setting up of Climate Impact X, a marketplace and exchange for carbon credits.
- Advised the Government Technology Agency on Singpass.
- Acted for various funds of Sequoia Capital India and SEA in relation to the purchase of various types of cryptographic tokens.
- Acts for Web3 companies, including on gaming and promotional activities and adjustment of product parameters in view of the Gambling Control Act 2022.
Publications
- IMDA Act amended to strengthen media sector’s competition and consumer protection regulatory framework
- IBA: FinTech - How the Financial Innovation Industry Is Taking Shape Around the World (2026)
- MAS commits S$220 million to support next phase of FinTech innovation under FSTI 4.0
- MAS consults on amendments to Payment Services Act 2019 to implement stablecoin regulatory framework
- CSA publishes Quantum-Safe Handbook and Quantum Readiness Index
- CSA to publish new Cybersecurity Code of Practice for Cloud Services and update Cybersecurity Code of Practice for Critical Information Infrastructure to address emergent threats
- Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill introduced to strengthen measures to detect, disrupt, and deter scams
- IMDA and PDPC publish guides relating to generative AI, digital twin technology, and privacy-enhancing technologies
- CSA publishes addendum to guidelines and companion guide on securing AI systems
- PDPC issues Advisory Guidelines on Use of Personal Data in Generative AI
- MAS establishes Future of Finance Institute to scale financial innovation
- MAS publishes white paper on safeguards for AI agents in finance
- CSA publishes Singapore Cyber Landscape 2025/2026
- Online Safety Commission operational from 29 June 2026
- IMDA issues discussion paper on legal responsibility for AI agents
- IMDA updates Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI
- MDDI and IMDA seek comments on draft Digital Infrastructure Bill
- PDPC consults on proposed Advisory Guidelines on Use of Personal Data in Generative AI
- Partial commencement of Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 and Online Safety Commission to begin operations on 29 June 2026
- MOT seeks comments on proposed legislative framework for safe deployment of autonomous vehicles on roads
- CSA publishes closing note to consultation on licensing framework for cybersecurity service providers
- Bill to amend IMDA Act passed to strengthen competition and consumer protection regulatory framework for media sector
- Sixty-six WTO members adopt WTO Agreement on E-Commerce with interim arrangements
- Info-communications Media Development Authority (Amendment) Bill introduced in Parliament
- IMDA consults on amendments to Code of Practice for Info-communication Facilities in Buildings
- Lexology In-Depth: Fintech Law (9th Ed, 2026) - Singapore
- CSA to raise cybersecurity standards for critical information infrastructure owners
- National AI Impact Programme launched to strengthen Singapore’s AI capabilities across enterprises and workers
- MAS extends Financial Sector Technology and Innovation Scheme until 16 July 2026
- ICLG: Digital Health 2026 (7th Ed) - Singapore
- Private organisations must cease use of NRIC numbers for authentication by 31 December 2026
- Three key FinTech trends in 2025
- Singapore launches new Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI
- Public Sector (Governance) (Amendment) Bill allowing public sector agencies to share data with external partners passed in Parliament
- MDDI consults on draft Info-Communications Media Development Authority (Amendment) Bill on changes to the media competition framework
- Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill passed, establishes Online Safety Commission to address online harms and provide victim redress
- Public Sector (Governance) (Amendment) Bill introduced to support data sharing with external partners
- Cyber Security Agency announces new initiatives
- Indonesia Financial Services Authority and Monetary Authority of Singapore sign MOU strengthening collaboration in FinTech and digital financial assets
- Practical Law: Pre-employment Screening and Data Protection Law Requirements, and Employee Monitoring - Singapore (2025)
- CSA consults on proposed changes to licensing framework for cybersecurity service providers
- Singapore to build AI-fluent workforce
- Practical Law: Confidentiality Considerations - Singapore (2025)
- Feedback from public consultation on framework for remote witnessing and electronic signing of statutory declarations: MinLaw issues response
- New initiatives announced to help businesses protect data and deploy AI in a trusted ecosystem
- Negotiations on EFTA-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement successfully concluded
- Lexology In-Depth: Fintech Law (8th Ed, 2025) - Singapore
- The Oxford Handbook of the Foundations and Regulation of Generative AI: Generative AI in Singapore
- New Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services effective 31 March 2025
- IMDA introduces advisory guidelines for cloud services and data centres
- New legislation in the pipeline to enhance protection for victims of online harm
- Shift Happens: How Generative AI is Changing the Way We Make Content
- ICLG: Digital Health 2025 (6th Ed) - Singapore
- ASEAN Guide on Data Anonymisation among three guides unveiled at ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting 2025
- Singapore announces new AI safety initiatives
- Three key FinTech trends in 2024
- MAS consults on roadmap to sunset corporate cheques and transition plan for retail cheques
- Global Finance & Technology Network established to further strengthen Singapore as global FinTech hub
- MAS announces plans to support commercialisation of asset tokenisation
- New Singapore-UK Agreement to strengthen global AI safety and governance
- Shared Responsibility Framework for FIs, Telcos, and consumers for phishing scams and revisions to E-Payments User Protection Guidelines to come into effect on 16 December 2024
- CSA launches guidelines and companion guide on securing AI systems
- CSA publishes Safe App Standard Version 2.0 to strengthen overall security posture of mobile apps in Singapore and better safeguard app transactions and user data
- CSA announces updated Operational Technology Cybersecurity Masterplan 2024
- MAS publishes information paper on cyber risks associated with generative AI
- CSA seeks comments on draft guidelines and companion guide on securing AI systems
- MAS commits up to S$100 million to support quantum and AI capabilities in financial sector
- Practical Law: Confidentiality Considerations - Singapore
- MAS issues revised Guidelines on Licensing for Payment Service Providers
- MAS expands industry collaboration to scale asset tokenisation for financial services, publishes whitepaper on Global Layer One initiative
- Strengthening AI governance in Singapore: (1) Safety guidelines for Generative AI model developers and application deployers, (2) expanded PET sandbox, and (3) ASEAN guide on data anonymisation
- Singapore and China advance cooperation in trusted commercial data flows and AI governance
- Public consultation on remote witnessing and e signing of statutory declarations
- Framework in Online Criminal Harms Act 2023 for codes of practice and directives to counter scams and malicious cyber activities in force
- Singapore launches generative AI testing toolkit Project Moonshot to address LLM safety and security challenges
- Singapore launches Digital Enterprise Blueprint
- Lexology In-Depth: Fintech Law (7th Ed, 2024) - Singapore
- MAS expands scope of regulated payment services, amends ongoing compliance requirements, and introduces user protection requirements for DPT service providers under Payment Services Act 2019
- Bits & Bytes: Key FinTech trends in 2023
- Singapore studying introduction of Digital Infrastructure Act
- MCI announces AI initiatives in alignment with National AI Strategy, including PDPC Advisory Guidelines on the Use of Personal Data in AI Recommendation and Decision Systems
- Three key FinTech trends in 2023
- New initiatives to advance Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 including AI Trailblazers 2.0 and Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First Singapore
- IMDA and GovTech announce digital sustainability initiatives to green the information and communications technology sector
- Online Criminal Harms Act 2023 enabling authorities to deal more effectively with criminal online activities partially in force on 1 February 2024
- Co-convenors of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce announce substantial conclusion of negotiations on global digital trade rules
- CSA issues Safe App Standard to provide guidance on enhancing security of mobile applications
- MCI leads S$20 million research programme to tackle new forms of online harms
- Singapore announces proposed Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI
- Telcos allow mobile subscribers to block calls from international numbers from 5 January 2024
- Practical Law: Employee Privacy and Workplace Monitoring - Singapore
- Singapore pioneers flagship AI initiative to develop South-east Asia’s first large language model ecosystem
- IMDA and AI Verify Foundation announce first of its kind Generative AI Evaluation Sandbox for Trusted AI
- Bits & Bytes: Singapore courts’ crypto-friendly approach shown in new ruling that cryptocurrency can be property
- MAS to strengthen regulatory measures for digital payment token services
- MAS partners financial industry to expand asset tokenisation initiatives, publishes whitepaper on interlinking networks
- MAS partners industry to develop generative AI risk framework for financial sector
- Cyber Security Agency launches cloud security companion guides for organisations
- Consultations on proposed shared responsibility framework for FIs, Telcos and consumers for phishing scams and revisions to E-Payments User Protection Guidelines
- Singapore courts’ crypto-friendly approach shown in new ruling that cryptocurrency can be property
- PDPC consults on proposed Advisory Guidelines on (1) Use of personal data in AI recommendation and decision systems and (2) PDPA for children’s personal data
- UK and Singapore enhance cooperation in sustainable finance and FinTech
- MAS to eliminate corporate cheques by end-2025
- Online Safety Code issued by IMDA takes effect to enhance online safety and curb spread of harmful content
- MAS finalises stablecoin regulatory framework, responds to feedback received on public consultation
- Bills to facilitate electronic statutory declarations, oaths and affirmations, and notarisations passed
- MAS-led industry consortium releases Veritas Toolkit version 2.0
- MAS publishes whitepaper proposing common protocol for use of digital money
- MAS proposes framework for digital asset networks
- Online Criminal Harms Bill passed to enable authorities to deal more effectively with criminal online activities
- MAS publishes investor protection measures for DPT services, issues consultation papers on (1) amendments to Payment Services Regulations, and (2) measures on market integrity in DPT services
- Launch of Singapore’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint: Architecting Singapore’s digital future
- Online Criminal Harms Bill introduced to enable authorities to deal more effectively with criminal online activities
- MAS consults on amendments to regulations and notices to operationalise Payment Services (Amendment) Act 2021
- Practical Law: Confidentiality Considerations - Singapore
- The International Comparative Legal Guide to Digital Health 2023 (4th Ed) - Singapore
- Digital Enterprise Blueprint and Digital Connectivity Blueprint to be launched this year
- New Online Criminal Harms Act and Code of Practice for App Stores among measures announced to tackle online crimes and strengthen online safety
- IMDA implements mandatory registration with Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry from 31 January 2023
- Three key FinTech trends in 2022
- Legislation to tackle harmful content on online services accessible to users in Singapore in force
- Korea-Singapore Digital Partnership Agreement enters into force