Mark Johnston

    image

    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

    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.

    Structural Regulation

    China Standardises Cost Disclosures for Personal Loans

    26/09/2026

    Five Chinese financial industry associations have issued new guidelines requiring lenders to standardise the disclosure of all-in personal loan costs.

    Clearing & Post-Trade

    Shanghai Clearing House Adds SGD, NZD And THB To Central Clearing

    25/09/2026

    China's central counterparty clearing house has expanded its foreign exchange services to include the SGD, NZD and THB.

    JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

    An exclusive weekly selection of top stories from the Regulation Asia editorial team.