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
ESG / Sustainability
China Imposes Lifelong Accountability for Government Investment
21/04/2026
New rules aim to curb reckless spending and manage debt risks by holding officials personally responsible for project decisions throughout their lifetime.
Securities / Derivatives
Taiwan's Taishin Securities Faces Probe After Post-Merger System Outages
20/04/2026
The brokerage, now Taiwan's fourth-largest, suffered two system failures following its merger with MasterLink, leading to thousands of incorrect trades and a regulatory investigation.
Fintech / Regtech
Korea Divided on Breach Reporting Law for E-commerce Firms
20/04/2026
A legislative proposal to mandate that e-commerce firms report security breaches to financial authorities faces resistance from the regulator and industry.
Capital / Liquidity
Korea Eases Capital Rules to Free Up KRW 99 Trillion
20/04/2026
Regulators are easing rules for banks and insurers to channel funds into strategic industries and support companies impacted by Middle East instability.
Fintech / Regtech
China Drafts Sweeping Ethical Security Guidelines for AI
20/04/2026
New draft rules outline specific responsibilities for AI developers, providers and users, with a focus on human oversight, fairness, and risk control in key sectors like finance.
Crypto / Digital Assets
LayerZero and Korea Gold Exchange to Launch Multi-Chain Gold Token
20/04/2026
The partnership will see the launch of KGLD, a real-world asset backed by physical gold, aiming to tap into Asia’s growing demand for tokenised assets.
ESG / Sustainability
Taiwan to Mandate Nomination Committees for Banks, FHCs
20/04/2026
Taiwan’s FSC is moving to make nomination committees compulsory for all financial holding companies and domestic banks to strengthen governance.
Fintech / Regtech
Japanese Firm to Launch QR-based Payments in Taiwan
19/04/2026
Japanese mobile payments giant PayPay will enable QR payments at 400,000 locations, integrating with Taiwan's unified "TWQR" standard in a regulated expansion.
ESG / Sustainability
Taiwan Launches TWD 300 Billion Scheme for Insurer Investments
19/04/2026
The FSC is offering incentives to steer insurance funds into strategic sectors including semiconductors, AI, and infrastructure over the next three years.
Capital / Liquidity
Taiwan Proposes to Allow Foreign Bonds as Loan Collateral
19/04/2026
The FSC proposes to allow investment-grade foreign bonds as collateral for securities-based loans, aiming to improve investor liquidity and expand brokerage services.
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