Manesh Samtani
Manesh Samtani is the Editor at Regulation Asia, where he leads the regional news desk from Hong Kong, directing coverage of critical regulatory developments impacting financial services across APAC. Manesh specialises in analysing how new rules and technologies are reshaping banking, capital markets, and the fight against financial crime, providing finance professionals, compliance leaders, and policymakers with the intelligence they need to navigate risk and understand the impact of regulatory change in the region. manesh@regulationasia.com
Articles by Manesh Samtani
Anti-Money Laundering
Good is No Longer Enough: FATF’s Core Message to Singapore
12/05/2026
The strength of Singapore’s AML framework was affirmed, but the SGD 3 billion case has moved the goalposts from compliance to effectiveness.
FinCEN Alert Flags Use of HK, SG Firms in Iran Sanctions Evasion
12/05/2026
New FinCEN alert details how Iran’s IRGC uses front companies, illicit oil sales, and digital assets to launder funds, highlighting specific red flags for FIs.
PEPs & Sanctions
US Sanctions More Hong Kong Firms Over Iran-China Oil Trade
12/05/2026
OFAC has designated four Hong Kong-based companies and several others in the UAE and Oman for helping to finance Iran’s IRGC through oil sales to China.
Cybersecurity
IMF Warns of Systemic Risk from AI-Fuelled Cyberattacks
11/05/2026
The IMF is urging a ‘resilience-first’ policy response as advanced AI models amplify cyber threats to the global financial system.
Anti-Money Laundering
AUSTRAC Chief Urges Shift Away From ‘Checklist’ Regulation
11/05/2026
AUSTRAC’s CEO says a rules-based approach is failing and has called for deeper public-private partnerships and joint analytics to combat evolving criminal threats.
Cryptocurrency
Korea's Bithumb Partners With Vietnam Brokerage for Crypto Licence
11/05/2026
Korea's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange signed an MOU with a subsidiary of Vietnam's largest securities firm SSI Securities.
Capital Adequacy
China NFRA Proposes Overhaul of Rules for Rural Lenders
11/05/2026
The draft rules are expected to force consolidation by hiking capital minimums and requiring principal sponsors to hold a majority stake.
PEPs & Sanctions
US Sanctions China, HK Firms in Iran Procurement Network
10/05/2026
The latest sanctions target entities across Asia and the Middle East, putting foreign financial institutions on notice of potential secondary sanctions.
Stablecoins
South Korea Bank Stablecoin Pilot Adopts Post-Quantum Security
08/05/2026
A Korean bank-led stablecoin proof-of-concept is using post-quantum cryptography, setting a potential new security benchmark for digital currency projects.
PEPs & Sanctions
New Zealand Sanctions Russian Cyber Actors and Payment Networks
08/05/2026
The package targets 20 individuals and entities involved in hybrid warfare, sanctions evasion, and military supply chains supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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