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
Philippines Moves to Cap Digital Reach of Rural Banks
16/02/2026
Accounts held by customers with registered addresses outside a rural bank's head office and branch locations will not be permitted to exceed 30 percent of total customer accounts.
Securities / Derivatives
South Korea Overhauls Delisting Rules to Purge ‘Zombie’ Firms
16/02/2026
Regulators will tighten market cap, penny stock, and disclosure rules, and expect the changes to triple the number of delistings.
Securities / Derivatives
SSE Unveils 2026 Action Plan, Pledges CNY 1.1 Billion in Fee Cuts
13/02/2026
The ten-point plan focuses on improving disclosure, ESG standards, and market services while delivering significant cost reductions for participants.
AML / KYC
Korea Proposes Real Estate Watchdog with Warrantless Access to Bank Data
13/02/2026
Financial institutions face new data-sharing obligations under bill creating real estate regulator with powers comparable to securities regulator.
Fintech / Regtech
Korea Launches Cybersecurity Assessment Framework for FIs
13/02/2026
The new four-tier assessment framework allows firms to self-diagnose security posture as network separation rules are set to be relaxed.
Fintech / Regtech
Korea FSS to Set Security Standards for Online Loan Brokers
13/02/2026
New rules for IT facilities and staffing will be released by mid-2026, with a grace period until July 2027.
Securities / Derivatives
China Ease Refinancing Rules for Tech, High-Quality Firms
11/02/2026
The new rules will relax restrictions on using funds for working capital and allow firms trading below their IPO price to raise capital.
Market Infrastructure
China Unifies Bank and Insurance Licences, Tightens Compliance Rules
11/02/2026
The new framework eliminates separate insurance licences, sets a two-year transition period, and introduces stricter penalties for non-compliance.
Capital / Liquidity
China Directs Domestic Banks to Curb Exposures to US Treasuries
11/02/2026
Regulators asked lenders to limit new purchases and gradually pare down their positions due to excessive concentration risks and heightened market volatility.
Securities / Derivatives
China Tightens Underwriting Rules, Set Quantitative Metrics for IPO Research
10/02/2026
The new guidelines introduce strict evaluation metrics for earnings forecasts in research reports and add bribery as an aggravating factor for penalties.
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