AML / KYC

Binance Faces Lawsuit from Hamas Victims for Facilitating Terrorism

02/02/2024

The lawsuit, which alleges that Binance enabled Hamas to finance the 7 October attacks, also names Iran and Syria as defendants.

AML / KYC

SkyCity Agrees to Pay More Than A$70m for AML Breaches

02/02/2024

AUSTRAC launched civil penalty proceedings against SkyCity Adelaide in December 2022. The casino operator just raised its provision for the potential penalty.

Securities / Derivatives

ASIC Issues New Guidance on Pre-Hedging Practices

02/02/2024

If not carried out in an appropriate manner, pre-hedging can be unfair, unconscionable and result in poor client outcomes, ASIC said.

Sanctions

Australia, UK Join US in Imposing New Myanmar Sanctions

02/02/2024

The sanctions come three years after the military coup in Myanmar. Australia and the UK targeted a combined nine entities.

Fintech / Regtech

Taiwan QR Mobile Payment Service Now Available in Korea

01/02/2024

Taiwan travelers with electronic wallets linked to any of 13 financial institutions can pay South Korean merchants by scanning their TWQR code.

China Rolls Out Coordination Mechanism for Real Estate Financing

01/02/2024

Guangxi and Chongqing released “whitelists” of real estate projects that are eligible for financing, with one already receiving a loan from Minsheng Bank.

Securities / Derivatives

Korea to Tighten Rules to Prevent Misuse of Treasury Stock System

01/02/2024

Listed companies will no longer be allowed to receive allocations of treasury shares from corporate spin-offs.

ESG / Sustainability

New Climate Risk Data Platform for FIs Goes Live in Taiwan

01/02/2024

The FSC said the platform will help FIs in developing models, disclosing information, conducting scenario analysis, and performing stress tests.

Big Picture

Transparency International Releases 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index

01/02/2024

New Zealand and Singapore were the only two APAC countries in the top 10. China and Korea improved their scores over last year.