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
Fintech / Regtech
Korea Deploys AI to Proactively Block Financial Spam
13/04/2026
Financial regulators will use NLP to automatically identify and block evolving fraudulent investment and loan-related text messages.
Securities / Derivatives
Japan Seeking to Further Develop Corporate Bond Market - Reports
13/04/2026
Policymakers are encouraging new corporate financing methods as rising government bond yields create systemic risks for the country's largest financial institutions.
Enforcement
Japan FSA Expands Prudential Fraud Probe to Domestic Parent Entity
11/04/2026
The regulator will conduct an on-site inspection of Prudential Holdings of Japan, examining supervisory failures linked to a decades-long fraud.
ESG / Sustainability
Japan Finalises Roadmap for Mandatory ESG Disclosure and Assurance
11/04/2026
Regulators have set a phased timeline for Prime-listed firms, starting with financial years ending in March 2027, and outlined a 'profession-agnostic' framework for assurance providers.
Korean Regulators Target Unfair Clauses in Financial Contracts
11/04/2026
Joint briefing signals a push for stronger internal controls and pre-emptive action by financial firms to protect consumers from disadvantageous terms.
Crypto / Digital Assets
Korea Mandates Standardised Crypto Withdrawal Delays
11/04/2026
New unified rules remove exchange discretion on withdrawal holds, aiming to close loopholes exploited by voice phishing fraudsters.
Securities / Derivatives
Thailand SEC Proposes to Classify Funders as Major Shareholders
11/04/2026
The proposal would extend regulatory approval requirements to the financial backers of major shareholders in securities and digital asset firms.
Capital / Liquidity
BOT Urges Lenders to Ease Terms for Struggling Borrowers
11/04/2026
The central bank has asked financial institutions to offer debt relief and fresh credit to borrowers impacted by economic headwinds.
ESG / Sustainability
China Rolls Out Supply Chain Regulations Targeting Harmful Foreign Actions
11/04/2026
New regulations create a security review mechanism and allow for countermeasures against foreign commercial and government actions deemed harmful.
Enforcement
China Launches New Crackdown on Illicit Financial Intermediaries
10/04/2026
The campaign targets illegal deposit, loan, and insurance intermediaries, as well as unauthorised online lending and anti-collections services.
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