Enforcement

Crypto / Digital Assets

MAS Warns Eight Crypto Exchanges, Halts ICO Issuer

By JP Reimann | 28/05/2018

Exchanges warned against facilitating trading in digital tokens which constitute securities or futures contracts without MAS authorisation; ICO representing equity ownership halted.

AML / KYC

S. Korean Banks’ AML Programmes Under US Regulatory Scrutiny

By JP Reimann | 23/05/2018

New York State Department of Financial Services to conduct inspections at South Korean bank branches for compliance with AML regulations.

Enforcement

SFC Fines Citigroup $7.3mn For IPO Sponsor Failures

By Manesh Samtani | 21/05/2018

The regulator fined Citigroup for due diligence and staff supervision failures relating to IPO work in 2009; no constraints placed on its business activities.

Market Infrastructure

Hong Kong SFC Releases Further Details on Licensing Regime

By Garima Chitkara | 17/05/2018

SFC bulletin highlights areas of concern the regulator considers in granting and rejecting licenses as well as updates to MIC regime; SFC also announced a forthcoming thematic review of MIC regime compliance.

AML / KYC

ICBC’s US Securities Unit Fined $5.3mn for AML Failures

By Garima Chitkara | 17/05/2018

US regulator FINRA has fined ICBC Financial Services for failing to have an AML program in place; ICBC FS also settled a case with the US SEC, paying $860,000 for failing to report suspicious transactions in its penny stock trading business.

Enforcement

CSRC Hands Out $1.2bn in Penalties in Bumper Year

By Manesh Samtani | 15/05/2018

Regulator handed out penalties amounting to $1.19bn in 2017, an 80% increase from 2016; market bans involved 44 persons, the highest in recent years.

Capital / Liquidity

UPDATED – RBI Freezes Lending, Hiring at Indian Banks Amid Rising NPAs

By Garima Chitkara | 14/05/2018

Central bank imposes lending and hiring freeze on Dena Bank, a public sector bank that reported a four-fold increase in gross NPAs and negative ROA for the quarter ending March 2018.

Crypto / Digital Assets

UPDATED – S.Korea Expands Probe into Crypto Exchanges

By JP Reimann | 14/05/2018

South Korean prosecutors have raided the country’s largest cryptocurrency exchange UPbit, seizing hard drives and accounting books; second largest exchange Bithumb also on FSC radar.

AML / KYC

FSB Asia Members Consider Financial System Vulnerabilities

By JP Reimann | 13/05/2018

Members discussed bank resolution regimes, the use of tech to mitigate AML/CTF risk, governance frameworks to reduce misconduct.