Mark Johnston
Based in Singapore, Mark is an experienced journalist and editor with over a decade of experience reporting on technology and business trends throughout Asia. Mark got his start as an engineer, graduating from the UK's Queen's University of Belfast with a Master's degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. As senior reporter for Regulation Asia, Mark focuses on regulatory changes impacting financial markets, with particular interest in fintech, cybersecurity and crypto markets.
Articles by Mark Johnston
Payments & Settlements
China Issues Guidelines to Boost Financing for Service Sector
02/10/2026
China's central bank and seven other government agencies have introduced new guidelines urging financial institutions to expand funding for asset-light service enterprises.
Structural Regulation
New Online Marketing Rules for Financial Products Take Effect in China
02/10/2026
China has implemented new regulations restricting the online marketing of financial products to curb misleading advertisements and the improper use of bank loans.
Payments & Settlements
Rwanda’s Bank Of Kigali Becomes First East African Bank to Join China's CIPS
01/10/2026
Rwanda’s Bank of Kigali has become the first financial institution in East and Central Africa to directly connect to China’s cross-border payment network.
Trading & Investment
China Expands QFI Access to 23 Additional Commodity Derivatives
01/10/2026
China has widened foreign investor access to its commodity markets, adding 23 futures and options contracts across three major exchanges.
Liquidity Risk
China Adjusts Monetary Policy Tools to Direct Targeted Lending
30/09/2026
The PBOC has lowered its pledged supplementary lending rate and expanded relending quotas to support targeted sectors.
Credit Risk
Beijing Overhauls Property Sales Rules With New Lead Bank System
30/09/2026
Beijing has introduced sweeping property market reforms, mandating a lead bank system and tightening mortgage issuance to regulate developer funding.
Tokenisation
Taiwan to Ease Offshore Fund Limits In Wealth Hub Push
30/09/2026
Taiwan's FSC plans to relax investor caps for offshore private funds and introduce new virtual asset rules.
AI Risk & Governance
China Proposes Digital and Intelligent Accounting Transformation
30/09/2026
China's MOF has issued draft guidelines to accelerate the digital and intelligent transformation of the accounting sector.
Structural Regulation
China Pledges to Review and Approve Applications from Foreign FIs
29/09/2026
China pledges to open its market to global and US financial firms following the latest round of China-US trade consultations.
Clearing & Post-Trade
China to Expand Swap Connect With Standardised Derivatives
28/09/2026
China plans to add two onshore interest-rate derivatives to the Swap Connect scheme by 2028, expanding foreign market access.
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