Manesh Samtani
Manesh Samtani is the Editor at Regulation Asia, where he leads the regional news desk from Hong Kong, directing coverage of critical regulatory developments impacting financial services across APAC. Manesh specialises in analysing how new rules and technologies are reshaping banking, capital markets, and the fight against financial crime, providing finance professionals, compliance leaders, and policymakers with the intelligence they need to navigate risk and understand the impact of regulatory change in the region. manesh@regulationasia.com
Articles by Manesh Samtani
Rate Hikes Directly Increase Bank Credit Losses: BIS Study
14/05/2026
New paper quantifies the link between monetary policy and credit risk, offering a new ‘rule of thumb’ for supervisors.
Anti-Money Laundering
Clarity Needed in FATF R16 Guidance to Prevent De-Risking: RUSI Analyst
13/05/2026
Forthcoming guidance on the FATF’s revised Recommendation 16 must provide clear, practical rules to avoid harming financial inclusion.
BIS Chief Flags NBFI Risks, Calls for Cautious Reform
13/05/2026
Pablo Hernández de Cos highlighted growing fragilities in private credit and sovereign debt, while urging a careful approach to reviewing post-crisis rules and regulating stablecoins.
PEPs & Sanctions
Report Calls on US to Designate Hong Kong a ‘Money Laundering Concern’
12/05/2026
Report alleges Hong Kong is a key hub for Iranian sanctions evasion and calls for action against the city’s banking and crypto sectors.
Anti-Money Laundering
Good is No Longer Enough: FATF’s Core Message to Singapore
12/05/2026
The strength of Singapore’s AML framework was affirmed, but the SGD 3 billion case has moved the goalposts from compliance to effectiveness.
FinCEN Alert Flags Use of HK, SG Firms in Iran Sanctions Evasion
12/05/2026
New FinCEN alert details how Iran’s IRGC uses front companies, illicit oil sales, and digital assets to launder funds, highlighting specific red flags for FIs.
PEPs & Sanctions
US Sanctions More Hong Kong Firms Over Iran-China Oil Trade
12/05/2026
OFAC has designated four Hong Kong-based companies and several others in the UAE and Oman for helping to finance Iran’s IRGC through oil sales to China.
Cybersecurity
IMF Warns of Systemic Risk from AI-Fuelled Cyberattacks
11/05/2026
The IMF is urging a ‘resilience-first’ policy response as advanced AI models amplify cyber threats to the global financial system.
Anti-Money Laundering
AUSTRAC Chief Urges Shift Away From ‘Checklist’ Regulation
11/05/2026
AUSTRAC’s CEO says a rules-based approach is failing and has called for deeper public-private partnerships and joint analytics to combat evolving criminal threats.
Cryptocurrency
Korea's Bithumb Partners With Vietnam Brokerage for Crypto Licence
11/05/2026
Korea's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange signed an MOU with a subsidiary of Vietnam's largest securities firm SSI Securities.
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