Crypto / Digital Assets

Crypto / Digital Assets

India Tax Authorities Probe Crypto Payments to Moonlighting Professionals

By Nithya Subramanian | 16/03/2026

The investigation focuses on undeclared overseas crypto income as India expands reporting rules for digital assets and cross-border tax compliance.

Securities / Derivatives

Bursa Malaysia Proposes Rule Amendments for Digital Currency ETFs

By Nithya Subramanian | 16/03/2026

The proposed amendments aim to enable listing of digital currency ETFs with enhanced disclosures, risk warnings and investor safeguards.

Crypto / Digital Assets

South Korea Passes Law to Protect Crypto Scam Victims

By Mark Johnston | 15/03/2026

The National Assembly has amended legislation requiring virtual asset exchanges to monitor suspicious transactions and compensate victims of digital financial crimes by October.

Crypto / Digital Assets

Korea Consults Brokers on Use of Stablecoins in STO Settlement

By Mark Johnston | 13/03/2026

Financial authorities in South Korea are urgently collecting regulatory feedback from securities firms regarding the use of stablecoins within the token securities market.

Enforcement

Singapore Court Jails Chinese National over $6.9m Crypto Theft

By Nithya Subramanian | 13/03/2026

Chinese national Zhang Xinghua jailed two years for role in multi-million-dollar SafeX cryptocurrency theft involving insider access and laundering attempts.

Crypto / Digital Assets

HSBC, StanChart Tipped to Win Hong Kong Stablecoin Licences

By Manesh Samtani | 13/03/2026

Standard Chartered has participated in the HKMA sandbox for stablecoin issuers, but HSBC's inclusion is seen as noteworthy as it did not.

Fintech / Regtech

Australia Issues Draft Legislation for New Payments Licensing Framework

By Mark Johnston | 13/03/2026

The reforms establish a dual ASIC-APRA model, setting a AUD 200 million threshold for prudential oversight and introducing new safeguarding rules.

Sanctions

US Sanctions North Korea IT Worker Network in Vietnam and Laos

By Manesh Samtani | 13/03/2026

The action targets facilitators using cryptocurrency to launder funds, heightening secondary sanctions and due diligence risks for financial institutions in Southeast Asia.

Fintech / Regtech

HKMA Directs Banks to Conduct Strategic Reviews for Tokenisation Era

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 13/03/2026

Top HKMA officials set out expectations for banks to adapt their business models for emerging digital technologies like DLT.