GE2025: Jeremy Tan, 34, S'pore's 1st 'bitcoin candidate', running in Mountbatten SMC. Oh, he's also a retiree.

Jeremy Tan, 34, is throwing his name in the electoral battle hat as Singapore's first "bitcoin candidate".

He is running as an independent candidate in Mountbatten SMC in the 2025 general election.

If you are wondering what a "bitcoin candidate" entails, look no further than Tan's website, where he introduces himself and shares his ideas on a wide range of topics.

His party logo?

Yes, you got it: An orange "B" fashioned like the "$" sign, which is a nod to the longstanding bitcoin logo.

Some might argue it is a blatant rip-off, if not an acquisition of a well-known sign to advertise his affiliation with the cryptocurrency, the way a crypto evangelist would put it up front and centre.

But could there be more to this "crypto bro"?

A serious candidate?

In an interview with Mothership on Apr. 17, Tan was quizzed if he was a serious candidate — as he seemingly appeared out of nowhere and so late in the game — as well as if he had the political nous, the people behind him, and the machinations for a reasonable run in politics.

Tan said upcoming media exposure would greatly assist him in his call for people to come forward — an appeal he has already made on his website — and assemble his team of volunteers.

"I think there has been quite a few sign-ups on my website, I would say [it's] good — good number," he reckoned.

Could not stand in 2020 as family needed help

The former Queenstown Secondary School student also elaborated on where he was during the 2020 general election.

Tan said: "I don't think I had the opportunity to start this political journey (in 2020) because of Covid-19 and my mother got Stage 3 cancer, and my brother and father lost their jobs."

"I had to support my family and had no ability to take time off and consider all the things I needed to do."

The turning point came when Paula's Choice, a well-regarded skin care brand, was acquired by Unilever a year later in 2021.

Tan hit pay dirt as he was in the business of being the distributor of its products.

But it was not the first windfall for Tan.

Why he is big on bitcoin

Given how he has put bitcoin front and centre to kickstart his political journey, is Tan a crypto millionaire who made his fortune in acquiring bitcoin years ago?

He replied candidly: "I bought six bitcoins, something like 12 or 13 years ago at US$300 (then S$384) each."

He has managed to keep six of them.

At current prices of around S$111,000 each, his remaining stash works out to around S$666,000.

He explained further: "I want to be very clear with your your readers and others, I do not have such things as 'cryptocurrency' in mind. It is only bitcoin."

Asked about whether he is a bitcoin evangelist and if he is using this general election as a platform to seed and spread the idea of people and Singapore as a nation holding bitcoins, Tan elaborated he is thinking of his fellow citizens' collective future:

It is because bitcoin is protected by energy. It's protected by nodes, by mining. The best performing ETF (exchange-traded fund) in the world is the Blackrock Bitcoin ETF.

The boomers, the institutions and the money managers speak with their money. They are not here to speculate. They are here to ensure that their returns are not inflated away.

We should take that approach when it comes to our savings, our hard-earned money. We should look at why they are doing this.

To make his point, Tan highlighted the example of Bhutan, which is a country that has acquired millions of dollars in bitcoin in recent years by funnelling its hydropower into minting the digital currency.

Tan said Bhutan's dedication to bitcoin mining has allowed it to pay its bills with an asset that has been increasing in value, and should not be seen as a country making a speculative bet.

"The money you create is really from energy," Tan said more than once in the interview, pointing out that "energy" could be from a renewable source, or people's personal effort.

He tied it back to Singaporeans' overall welfare: "Why is it that I consider this to be very important is because Singaporeans are overworked, the more stressed, with the least sleep."

He believes in bitcoin because it has worked for him and could work on larger scale if its adoption rate is scaled up.

Campaign issues pondered upon over time

Tan, who went to Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to study business, said he has given thought to many other issues over the years.

The proof?

His campaign website jeremytan.sg lays out his thinking.

He said: "I've been contemplating what I would like to do, right? So, if people think that I have been suddenly appearing only, I think they should actually consider looking at my website."

According to him, he has compiled the "performance" of the 14th parliament, having read the Hansard records, and gave his take on issues and policies in return, laid bare on his site with the sources he relied on to formulate his views.

Effectively retired

When asked if his current financial status makes him a retiree, Tan was quick to admit he is set for life.

The voracious reader admitted to having read "all the parties' manifestos", as well as numerous news articles and publications daily, something that he does with his free time to pursue his interests.

Having consumed the materials, he said he feels the current opposition political parties cannot "really make a difference when it comes to saying that they are able to spend money better than the PAP (People's Action Party)".

"So, I had to take time to go and research and actually understand what exactly is the core problem of our politics, about the cost of living, since we always talk about the cost of living," he said.

"That is why I came up with my website to show people that I have put in the work to actually look at all the issues," Tan said.

"This is not built overnight."

The website also offers translations of its text in Chinese and Malay.

Met Pritam Singh

Tan's journey into politics was pretty much sealed after he met with Workers' Party (WP) chief and Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh.

According to Tan's recounting, he went to volunteer for WP and spoke to Singh in 2023.

Tan apparently mentioned to Singh that he wanted to contest as an independent candidate in Mountbatten SMC and he went to the WP session to see if it would change his mind.

Tan said he then realised he was set on becoming an independent candidate and decided to go his own way.

"Being a full-time observer of politics in Singapore, I realised that over time, we need radical change," he said, without letting up during the 30-minute interview.

For example, Tan asserted there can be no difference made on the ground by giving out vouchers to assist in daily expenses, unless "HDB (housing) as a retirement asset" is ended as a policy — a highly political hot take, if there ever was one.

Why Mountbatten SMC?

Tan also elaborated on why he chose to stand in Mountbatten SMC as he sees the constituents as the "most risk-free" from the failings of policies.

"These guys are educated people, 70-plus per cent in private property. They have so much mobility, they are the least exposed and they are the most risk-free," he said.

An animal lover, Tan is married and has three beagles, and is a self-proclaimed "eastie" who lives 500m outside the boundary of Mountbatten SMC, in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

And what does his family think of his political ambition?

Tan said: "I asked permission from my wife and from my mother-in-law. They were like, 'Oh, run in election need to do what ah?'"

"And that's about it."

Tan explained his decision for being an independent candidate as such:

Because I want to really open up people's minds... I want to expand people's mindshare and consciousness about the things that affect them.

How does inflation get imported to us? Why is it that we still depend on trade flows, on dollars, on the free trade agreements?

How can we insulate ourselves against these global forces that are taking place very rapidly and in very volatile situations, right?

I want people to actually start to educate themselves. Learn with me on why these things require Singapore to think independently, and that's why I came out as an independent candidate, because none of the political parties will even consider what I've just said, right?

Can be reached for personal discussions on issues

Tan emphasised that beyond his views on bitcoin, he has his views on many issues.

These include heuristics, or broad rules-of-thumb, such as how 80 per cent of all U.S. dollars were printed in the last five years, which results in the erosion of the value of money, as well as 60 per cent of purchasing power is lost every 17 years.

"If you want to show me that you have a better way to tackle the cost of living and inflation issues, then you should tell me, or you should come and publicly address me," he said, as a challenge to voters.

To prove that he is serious in being a listener and an interlocutor, Tan has listed various ways he can be contacted personally, such as via Telegram and Instagram, to arrange for discussions with him one-on-one.

Online meetings are also viable, which is especially catered to people who might not be as mobile to meet in person, he said.

He said he will speak to anyone who contacts him and makes an appointment beforehand.

He would also be walking the grounds soon in his all-black get-up with orange trimmings on his shoes, which is to show his affinity with bitcoin.

He said he even went to the Hardwarezone forum to reply to commenters.

Odds of winning?

When asked about his chances of winning this contest in Mountbatten SMC, Tan said matter-of-factly it is about "30 to 35 per cent".

Even if he loses, he said he will be contactable and open to speaking with people: "If bitcoin is still around in 2030, you will see me around."

"One bitcoin is always one bitcoin. It is the U.S. dollar that moves up and down," he added.

Not against fluoride in water

Tan also reiterated that he is not against fluoride in Singapore's water.

A section on his website touched on the topic.

He clarified: "I think people are misreading this. They see [it] as a MAGA (Make American Great Again) movement."

He added:

People can have their views. I really appreciate that. They come and combat me on this. This issue was brought up in parliament before, right?

I just want to know whether or not our total sources of fluoride are still kept under the WHO (World Health Organisation) limit.

What I said is the PUB water is safe at a 0.5 mg/L level. All I'm asking for is a study on the total contribution of sources to make sure we stay within the WHO limit.

Heckled a candidate in 2015

Another interesting factoid about Tan: He was the one who heckled candidate Han Hui Hui during the Radin Mas SMC general election rally in 2015, a fact he pointed out to Mothership before the interview.

Mothership reported on the incident that year.

Asked if the tables have now turned as he will be facing the crowd and could potentially be heckled, Tan said: "I want people to actually come to my rally. So, if you want to heckle me, please feel free. I'll be ready for you. Yeah, so come on. Just come. Five years, one time."

As a parting shot, Tan said:

I just want to reach out to Mountbatten residents.

I want to say that you have the opportunity, as Mountbatten SMC, to finally have a candidate that you can see properly what all the policies are about, all of the proposals are about.

You have the opportunity to communicate with me. You have the opportunity to see how I will reach out and debate with you.

And because I'm so near Mountbatten, and I always go there to play basketball and run, you will see me there often.

That is the kind of level of rigour that I'll serve you with. And I hope the better candidate wins. Thank you.

Top photos via Jeremy Tan & Mothership