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
Alternative Markets
Korea Deploys Growth Fund for AI, Launches Retail Offering
08/05/2026
A state-backed fund is injecting capital into ‘sovereign AI’ while a new retail tranche offers government loss protection to encourage public participation.
Structural Regulation
BOT Warns Virtual Bank Applicants on Licence Conditions
08/05/2026
The central bank has cautioned the three prospective licensees that they must meet strict structural rules or risk losing their licence entirely.
Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime
Korea Deploys AI and Citizen Army to Fight Online Financial Crime
08/05/2026
Regulators are expanding a citizen monitoring group and upgrading an AI surveillance system to crack down on illegal online advertisements and unregulated "finfluencers."
Tokenisation
Samsung SDS to Build Korea’s Official Security Token Platform
08/05/2026
Samsung SDS will develop the central infrastructure for the Korea Securities Depository, aligning with a new legal framework set to launch in 2027.
Structural Regulation
KOFIA Creates New Council for Smaller Brokerages
07/05/2026
The move aims to address concerns that a widening revenue gap and a fee-based voting structure have concentrated influence among larger securities firms.
Anti-Money Laundering
Korea Crypto Sector Warns AML Proposal Will Overwhelm Exchanges
06/05/2026
An industry alliance has warned that proposed AML rules could trigger an 85-fold surge in suspicious transaction reports and are legally questionable.
AI Risk & Governance
BOK Governor Puts AI, Digital Won at Centre of New Agenda
06/05/2026
The move is part of new governor Hyun Song Shin's broader push for a revamped financial stability framework, digital innovation, and structural reform.
Trading & Investment
China Kicks Off Fund Benchmark Overhaul with First Batch of 195 Funds
05/05/2026
The first of four planned waves sees twelve firms revise fund contracts, linking manager pay more closely to benchmark performance.
Anti-Money Laundering
South Korean Court Halts Bithumb's Six-Month Business Suspension
05/05/2026
A Seoul court has granted an injunction against a partial business ban, escalating a legal battle between regulators and major cryptocurrency exchanges over AML rules.
Conduct, Culture & Accountability
China Requiring Brokers to Defer Larger Proportion of Bonuses
05/05/2026
Regulators have instructed securities firms to withhold a larger portion of performance pay for senior staff, amid a crackdown on excessive short-term incentives.
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