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
Korea to Launch New Exchange to Revitalise Voluntary Carbon Market
18/08/2025
The government will announce a plan in H2 2025 to establish a new trading platform and issue guidelines to boost transparency.
Securities / Derivatives
SEBI Flags Surge in Enforcement, Difficult Dues in Annual Report
18/08/2025
SEBI's annual report reveals a spike in settlement pleas and inspections amid record capital raising and mounting unrecovered penalties.
AML / KYC
Nepal Mandates Immediate Sanctions Freezing for Payment Firms
18/08/2025
New guidelines require immediate freezing of assets and daily screening, with financial penalties up to NPR 2 million for non-compliance.
Securities / Derivatives
Bangladesh Approves Draft Rules to Overhaul Equity Margin Lending
18/08/2025
New draft rules will restrict margin loans to top-tier stocks, set minimum investor equity thresholds, and impose new risk management obligations on lenders.
Securities / Derivatives
KRX Issues Proposed Rules for New Security Token Market
18/08/2025
Strict new rules on issuer capital, lock-ups, and trading raise questions about whether any products will actually be listed.
Korea Mandates Lower Credit Card Fees for Over 3 Million Merchants
15/08/2025
The move, affecting 93.2% of all businesses, requires credit card firms to apply preferential rates to ease the financial burden on small enterprises.
ESG / Sustainability
Malaysia Sees First Ever Issuance of ASEAN Social SRI Sukuk
15/08/2025
The MYR 200 million issuance will be used by the national mortgage corporation to fund the purchase of affordable home financing.
Enforcement
BFIU Probes Three Former Central Bank Governors in Corruption Inquiry
15/08/2025
The FIU has ordered banks to provide account details for three former governors and six deputies at the request of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Capital / Liquidity
Bangladesh Bank Eases FX Rules for Exporters in Specialised Zones
15/08/2025
New rules aim to create parity, improve liquidity management by allowing firms in special zones to hold full export proceeds temporarily.
Macao Tightens Insurance Intermediary Rules with new Ordinance
15/08/2025
The new law introduces higher licensing standards, stronger supervision through an “appointing principal” mechanism, and increased penalties to better protect insurance customers.
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