Regulation Asia | Financial Regulatory Intelligence and Analysis

OPINIONS & ANALYSIS

Hong Kong Quietly Positions Itself as Stablecoin Hub for China

by Blake Evans-Pritchard

With licenses imminent, the city is betting it can lead in digital assets without sacrificing financial stability.

Singapore’s AI Ambitions Clash with Cloud Hesitancy

by Bradley Maclean

A private roundtable of senior AML leaders revealed that despite regulatory encouragement, internal cultural and technical barriers are impacting AI adoption in Singapore.

Regulatory Lag Leaves Australia Open to 'Upstream' Crime Threats

by Bradley Maclean

Senior financial crime leaders warn that while threats are increasingly global and sophisticated, domestic regulatory frameworks and information-sharing mechanisms are failing to keep pace.

India’s Mutual Fund Reforms: A Foundation Built, A Future Unfinished

by Saurabh Maheshwari

SEBI’s reforms mark a significant step in modernising a decades-old framework, but further strengthening is needed in areas of governance, competence, and market conduct.

FEATURES

HKMA Grants First Stablecoin Licences to HSBC, StanChart-led JV

The HKMA has issued its first two stablecoin licences under a new ordinance, setting a high bar for future applicants.

Sanday Chongo Kabange

10 Apr 2026•3 min read

Singapore Tables Bill to Pave Way for SGX-Nasdaq Dual Listings

A new bill will empower the MAS to streamline rules for dual listings and allow retail investors earlier access to IPO documents.

Nithya Subramanian

09 Apr 2026•3 min read

Korea to Impose TradFI-Grade Controls on Crypto Exchanges

Korean regulators will require virtual asset exchanges to implement five-minute balance checks, monthly external audits, and financial-company-level internal controls.

Manesh Samtani

07 Apr 2026•3 min read

Japan Finalises Stricter AML/CFT Guidelines for Financial Firms

Revised rules clarify requirements for risk assessments, technology adoption, and the management of outsourced functions, and will apply immediately.

Manesh Samtani

03 Apr 2026•3 min read

Australia Passes Law to Bring Crypto Under AFSL Regime

New legislation designed to improve consumer protection and market integrity will require crypto exchanges and custody providers to obtain an AFS licence.

Sanday Chongo Kabange

03 Apr 2026•4 min read

Sweeping AML/CTF Reforms Take Effect in Australia

The reforms expand the AML/CTF regime to lawyers, accountants and other professional and property sectors, and introduce new travel rule obligations for value transfers, including crypto.

Manesh Samtani

31 Mar 2026•4 min read

MAS Details Plan to Become APAC Gold Trading Hub

The plan focuses on new products, market infrastructure, and central bank services to capture growing investor demand for bullion.

Nithya Subramanian

30 Mar 2026•3 min read

UK Sanctions Crypto Marketplace and Cambodia Scam Centre Network

The action targets Chinese-language marketplace Xinbi, which processed nearly USD 20 billion, and operators of a Cambodian scam compound under the UK’s Global Human Rights regime.

Nithya Subramanian

27 Mar 2026•3 min read

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