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
Big Picture
BSP Report Highlights Systemic Risk from Optimism Bias
26/02/2024
The central bank warns of systemic risks from optimistic market expectations in its 2023 Financial Stability Report.
Enforcement
SkyCity Adelaide Faces A$33M Penalty for Casino Tax Dispute
26/02/2024
SkyCity estimates it owes about A$13mn in back taxes dating back to 2014. Penalty interest could amount to as much as A$20mn.
AML / KYC
UK FCA Probes Lloyds Banking Group Over AML Controls
26/02/2024
Lloyds said it is cooperating with the investigation and it is “not currently possible” to estimate the potential financial impact, if any.
Market Infrastructure
PSE to Complete Acquisition of Bond Market Operator by 2025
26/02/2024
The Philippine Stock Exchange has since 2017 been seeking to acquire the Philippine Dealing System Group, which operates the local bond market.
Fintech / Regtech
FSDF Top-up Will Help Anchor Singapore Financial Services Capabilities
25/02/2024
MAS will use the S$2bn top-up to support talent development initiatives, innovation in financial services, and infrastructure projects.
Crypto / Digital Assets
S. Korea Has a New System for Tracking Crypto Tax Evaders
25/02/2024
Gyeonggi Province has been using a new digital tracking system that reduces investigation times from 6 months to just 15 days.
Crypto / Digital Assets
HK Crime Cases Involving Crypto Have Tripled Since 2021
25/02/2024
The SFC and police recorded 3,415 cases of virtual asset crimes in 2023, involving around HKD 4.4 billion (USD 562 million).
Shandong Financial Asset Management Becomes Hengfeng Bank’s Largest Shareholder
25/02/2024
Hengfeng Bank was bailed out in 2019 by Central Huijin Investment, Shandong Financial Asset Management and Singapore’s UOB after a major corruption scandal.
Securities / Derivatives
US SEC Adopts Amendments to Strengthen Ethics Rules
24/02/2024
The SEC has adopted amendments banning employees from investing in financial sector funds and enabling automated compliance monitoring.
Enforcement
Montenegro Court to Extradite Do Kwon to the US, Not Korea
23/02/2024
Montenegro’s High Court decided to approve the US extradition request over South Korea’s, citing the gravity of the charges and the evidence presented by US authorities.
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