Fintech / Regtech

Hong Kong Launches IP Financing Sandbox with Three Major Banks

23/12/2025

The initiative provides a risk-controlled environment for banks to test lending against intellectual property assets like patents and trademarks.

Capital / Liquidity

New Zealand's Kiwibank Scraps Capital Raise Plan After Regulatory Easing

23/12/2025

The state-owned lender cited the RBNZ's revised capital rules and a recent successful debt issue for cancelling its plan to raise equity.

Crypto / Digital Assets

Indonesia Sets Crypto Trader Whitelist, Pledges Severe Penalties for Unlicensed Activity

23/12/2025

The OJK has published a list of 29 authorised crypto firms and detailed potential 10-year prison sentences for illegal operators.

Crypto / Digital Assets

India Grants Regulatory Approval for Coinbase Stake in CoinDCX

23/12/2025

The CCI approval follows Coinbase's recent financial intelligence unit registration as it targets a full relaunch with rupee services in 2026.

Market Infrastructure

Cambodia, Laos Launch 2nd Phase of Cross-border QR Payment Link

23/12/2025

Travellers from Laos can now use their local currency to pay at Cambodian merchants, completing the bilateral payment corridor.

AML / KYC

Cambodia Unveils New Financial Sector Strategy for 2025-2030

23/12/2025

New five-year plan details 866 measures to bolster resilience, with a focus on digitalisation, de-dollarisation, and sustainable finance.

Sanctions

Singapore Police Arrests Superyacht Captain in Prince Group Probe

23/12/2025

The arrestee was the captain of a superyacht owned by Chen Zhi, a Cambodian tycoon who allegedly masterminded one of Asia’s largest transnational criminal organisations.

Securities / Derivatives

FSC Korea Outlines KOSDAQ Overhaul Plan to Lure Investors

23/12/2025

The FSC says the plan introduces easier listings for high-tech firms, stricter delisting rules, and powerful incentives to draw in pension funds.

AML / KYC

Malaysia SC, Tax Authority Ink Pact to Tackle Complex Financial Crime

22/12/2025

The agreement between the SC and IRB establishes a framework for information and intelligence sharing to combat evolving threats like market misconduct and tax evasion.