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
AML / KYC
KoFIU to Tighten AML Supervision in 2026 to Target ‘Weak Links’
16/12/2025
KoFIU announces stricter inspections for electronic financial service providers and mutual finance businesses to combat cross-border crime.
Securities / Derivatives
KRX to Revise Criteria for Issuing "Investment Warning” Designation on Stocks
16/12/2025
KRX plans to revise its criteria for designating ‘investment warning’ stocks after applying strict anti-manipulation rules to the country's second-largest company.
Enforcement
South Korea Scrutinises Binance over Upbit Breach Response
16/12/2025
Korean police had asked Binance to freeze Solana tokens from the Upbit breach, but only a partial amount was reportedly frozen after an initial delay.
Securities / Derivatives
Korean Lawmakers Propose Mandatory Public Tender Offer System
15/12/2025
The opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposes that the system could offer an alternative tool to defend against hostile mergers and acquisitions.
Securities / Derivatives
South Korea Considers Share‑Based Inheritance Tax to Curb Volatility
15/12/2025
Government reviews a proposal to allow inheritance tax payments in blue-chip stocks, which could potentially seed the new sovereign wealth fund.
Capital / Liquidity
Philippines SEC Imposes Tighter Interest Rate Caps on Small Consumer Loans
15/12/2025
The SEC has lowered interest ceilings and introduced total cost caps to protect vulnerable borrowers from predatory lending.
Enforcement
China Escalates Anti-Fraud Drive with Bounty List, Mass Myanmar Repatriations
13/12/2025
Police across multiple Chinese provinces issued arrest notices for key figures accused of recruiting personnel and managing finances for Myanmar fraud operations.
Securities / Derivatives
Japan Corporate Governance Push Drives Record JPY 1.3 Trillion in Block Trades
12/12/2025
Regulatory pressure to unwind cross-shareholdings spurs surge in private off-market transactions amid heightened market volatility and demand for capital efficiency.
Crypto / Digital Assets
South Korea Stablecoin Bill Delayed Due to FSC-BOK Disagreement
12/12/2025
South Korea misses legislative deadline for stablecoin framework as central bank and financial regulator clash over bank equity mandates and oversight.
ESG / Sustainability
FSS Korea Targets Succession Planning in Governance Push
12/12/2025
The FSS has launched a governance task force and is demanding that boards include specialists in IT and consumer protection, citing recent data breaches and misselling scandals.
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