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Here's a run-through of the Q1 2025 family office news.
Bettmann Archive
While markets obsessed over IPO drama and crypto chatter in the first quarter of 2025, there has been a couple of quieter movements in the global family office news. From tax code rewrites in Asia to emerging AI-first strategies, family offices didn't just respond to change—they quietly authored it.
This quarter may not have delivered a singular headline moment. But the patterns tell a different story: the institutionalisation of tech, the geopolitical hardening of wealth jurisdictions, and a generational shift in control philosophy. Here’s what stood out—and what it signals.
Asia’s Family Office Wars: A Tale Of Two Philosophies
In Q1, the battleground for global family offices sharpened.
Hong Kong reasserted its relevance in March with targeted tax breaks, while Singapore, seemingly unshaken by its more onerous regulatory tone, doubled down on stricter local investment mandates. Meanwhile, Malaysia made a bold play—offering 20-year tax holidays, and Abu Dhabi streamlined licensing pathways.
At first glance, this may look like a race for competitiveness. But look closer, and a more philosophical divergence emerges.
Hong Kong bets on flexibility, leaning into crypto and lighter oversight.
Singapore champions stability, aiming to attract capital that’s in it for the long haul—even if it comes with more paperwork.
Malaysia surprises by offering something neither of the giants will: Islamic finance infrastructure, long-term tax certainty, and a clean-slate approach.
The numbers back this up. Singapore’s single-family office count grew by 43% YoY, crossing 2,000—proof that regulation, if well-calibrated, acts more like a sieve than a wall.
This echoes the early 2000s rivalry between London and Switzerland—except this time, crypto wallets replace gold vaults, and compliance officers are as valuable as asset managers.
The AI Moment: From Pilot Projects To Core Philosophy
We’ve long heard AI pitched as the next frontier. But in Q1, that future became operational reality.
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