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
Payments & Settlements
India Mandates Biometric UPI Payments, Shifts Liability to Banks
10/10/2025
Regulators have approved new biometric authentication methods for India’s UPI payments system, making banks fully liable for any safeguard failures.
Emerging Prudential Risks
IMF Calls for EM Policy Reform to Bolster FX and Debt Market Resilience
09/10/2025
Emerging economies must strengthen surveillance, close data gaps and boost operational resilience to withstand future shocks, the IMF has warned.
Credit Risk
Bangladesh Mandates CIB Reporting for Non-Listed Security Investments
09/10/2025
New rules require banks and NBFIs to report holdings in certain non-listed securities to the credit bureau to enhance oversight.
Tokenisation
RBI Launches Wholesale Deposit Tokenisation Pilot
09/10/2025
RBI will explore using its wholesale CBDC to support tokenised interbank deposits.
Anti-Money Laundering
Bangladesh Banks Directed to Engage Global Firms for Asset Recovery
08/10/2025
Lenders in Bangladesh must partner with international experts to repatriate funds allegedly laundered by high-profile individuals and business groups.
Operational Risk
APRA Directs Super Platforms to Lift Product Governance Standards
08/10/2025
APRA has ordered superannuation platform trustees to urgently lift standards after a review found significant failures in investment governance, onboarding and monitoring.
PEPs & Sanctions
China Using Covert State-Backed Channel to Fund Iran Oil Purchases - Report
07/10/2025
A hidden financial conduit involving state insurer Sinosure is funnelling billions in oil payments to Iran, according to reports.
Conduct, Culture & Accountability
IAG New Zealand Hit with $11.4M Penalty for Systemic Failures
07/10/2025
The FMA has secured a record penalty against the country's top insurer for misleading customers on a massive scale.
Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime
New Zealand Jails Adviser Over Theft from Elderly Clients
07/10/2025
The Financial Markets Authority has secured a prison sentence and a lifetime ban for a former adviser in a “gross breach of trust”.
Structural Regulation
RBI Proposes New Framework on Lending to Related Parties
07/10/2025
The draft directions introduce a scale-based approach for board approvals and expands the definition of related parties.
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