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
Liquidity Risk
Korea Proposes Overhaul of Liquidity Rules for Securities Firms
25/05/2026
The new framework expands existing liquidity ratio rules to all firms and introduces a new, more sophisticated crisis-adjusted ratio with haircuts.
CBDCs
BOK Advances Deposit Token Pilot with KRW 1.7 Billion Consulting Project
25/05/2026
The central bank is accelerating its CBDC-based deposit token pilot with a major consulting project, moving ahead while stablecoin legislation remains stalled.
Cybersecurity
Korea Expands Bug Bounty Programme to Crypto, Insurance Firms
25/05/2026
The annual programme has more than doubled its scope to include 70 firms, with rewards of up to KRW 10 million per vulnerability.
Tokenisation
Pakistan Explores Tokenisation of Sovereign Bonds
24/05/2026
The finance ministry, central bank, and new virtual asset regulator are coordinating on a plan to issue government debt on a regulated blockchain.
Anti-Money Laundering
Nepal Faces Blacklist Warning Amid Slow AML Reforms
23/05/2026
APG delegation reportedly warned Nepal that its “disappointing” progress on AML reforms risks a downgrade from the grey list to the blacklist.
Structural Regulation
Schroders to Exit Wholly-Owned China Fund Business
22/05/2026
The UK asset manager is transferring its onshore mutual funds to Neuberger Berman and seeking a buyer for its licence.
Supervision & Enforcement
Korea’s FSS Probes IBK Securities Over Real Estate Fund Losses
22/05/2026
The investigation follows investor complaints of mis-selling after several private real estate funds and bonds incurred significant or total losses amid a market downturn.
Structural Regulation
PBOC Proposes Blacklist for ‘Seriously Dishonest’ Financial Firms
20/05/2026
China’s central bank has drafted rules for a new blacklist targeting serious misconduct in payments, credit reporting, and other regulated areas.
Structural Regulation
China Sets New Capital and Conduct Rules for Derivatives Dealers
20/05/2026
New measures establish a CNY 500 million net capital floor for dealers, introduce suitability and real-name account rules, and clarify the regulatory framework.
Reporting & Disclosures
Shenzhen Exchange to Revamp ChiNext Indices, Adds ESG Screen
20/05/2026
The move will create a new tiered system of large, mid and small-cap indices and introduce new exclusion rules for ESG and risk-flagged stocks.
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