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
Market Infrastructure
BSP Designates Two More Systemically Important Payment Systems
14/03/2022
The Philippine Domestic Dollar Transfer System and the PHP-USD Payment versus Payment System have been designated systemically important.
Capital / Liquidity
RBNZ Defers Effective Date of New Insurance Solvency Standards
10/03/2022
The interim standard will come into force on 1 January 2023. The RBNZ is also consulting on the penalties and enforcement tools it has available for supervising insurers.
Capital / Liquidity
APRA Imposes New Limits on the Use of Offshore Reinsurers
10/03/2022
Updated prudential standard sets limits on exposures to offshore reinsurers. If a life company exceeds these limits, additional capital would need to be held.
Philippine SEC Implements Caps on Loan Rates, Fees
07/03/2022
The caps were prescribed to curb predatory and abusive practices by lending and financing companies including on online platforms.
Market Infrastructure
BSP Approves Reporting Rules for Payment System Operators
07/03/2022
Compliance requires effective a management information system that enables independent validation and periodic independent review of reporting processes and procedures.
Crypto / Digital Assets
Thailand SEC Tightens Custody Rules for Digital Assets
05/03/2022
The SEC is also proposing requirements for digital asset businesses to disclose service quality information on their websites.
Fintech / Regtech
India’s ASCI Issues Advertising Guidelines for Crypto Products
03/03/2022
All virtual asset-related ads released on or after 1 April must carry a disclaimer; Certain words associated with regulated products are will be prohibited.
Fintech / Regtech
EU Delays Vote on MiCA Legislation Following Backlash
03/03/2022
A vote on the EU’s regulatory framework for crypto-assets was delayed due to outcry over wording that would ban proof-of-work consensus protocols in 2025.
AML / KYC
New EU-Wide AML Authority Expected to Oversee Crypto Firms
01/03/2022
A group of EU member states led by Germany is seeking to make the inclusion of cryptocurrency firms under the AMLA’s remit more explicit.
Market Infrastructure
IMF to Launch New Data Gaps Initiative Later This Year
01/03/2022
A draft work plan for the new Data Gaps Initiative, which seeks to improve the availability of data for policymaking, focuses on four topics including climate change.
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