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
Operational Risk
China Sets Strict New Boundaries for Bank Custody Business
17/12/2025
New measures prohibit banks from funding investment products and providing guarantees, elevating oversight from self-regulation to binding departmental rules.
Supervision & Enforcement
China Imposes Record Fines on PE Fund Managers for Misappropriating Assets
17/12/2025
Chinese regulators have levied record fines totaling over CNY 35 million on a private equity firm for misappropriating client assets.
Sustainable Finance
China Launches Mechanism to Channel Funding into ‘Green Factories’
16/12/2025
The MIIT and PBOC have instructed financial institutions to establish dedicated work plans and incentives to support national-level green manufacturing projects.
Anti-Money Laundering
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.
Market Abuse
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.
Cryptocurrency
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.
Structural Regulation
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.
Trading & Investment
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.
Credit Risk
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.
Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime
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.
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