Financial Crime

Cryptocurrency

Japan’s FSA Reviews Memecoin Using PM’s Name, Takaichi Denies Involvement

By Nithya Subramanian | 05/03/2026

Japan’s FSA is investigating potential rule breaches after a Solana-based memecoin linked to PM Sanae Takaichi briefly surged in value and then collapsed.

Anti-Money Laundering

Taiwan Indicts 62 in Laundering Probe Linked to Prince Group

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 05/03/2026

Prosecutors allege the Cambodia-based conglomerate used shell companies and underground remittances to launder funds and disrupt Taiwan's financial order.

Anti-Money Laundering

Cross-Border Crime Demands Regional Response: AUSTRAC Chief

By Nathan Lynch | 05/03/2026

We need near real-time intelligence sharing that operates regionally rather than just domestically, Brendan Thomas said at Regulation Asia's Fraud & Financial Crime Australia conference.

Anti-Money Laundering

Korea Revamps AML Evaluation to Reward Proactive Risk Management

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 05/03/2026

The updated framework will introduce qualitative assessments and risk-based penalties to encourage voluntary improvements by financial institutions.

Structural Regulation

Nepal to Overhaul Capital Market with New Investor Safeguards

By Nithya Subramanian | 05/03/2026

Nepal plans new investor safeguards and NEPSE reforms to strengthen market governance and restore confidence.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

Hong Kong AFRC Fines Mazars, Grant Thornton for Audit Archiving Failures

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 05/03/2026

The firms were sanctioned for widespread and systemic breaches of the 60-day audit file archive requirement and related quality control deficiencies.

Anti-Money Laundering

AUSTRAC Warns of 'Integrated' APAC Crime System, Calls for Regulatory Rethink

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 05/03/2026

AUSTRAC says old rules are misaligned with new, industrial-scale, cross-border criminal ecosystems operating at unprecedented speed.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

BSEC Seeks Public Feedback on Draft Whistleblower Protection Rules

By Mark Johnston | 05/03/2026

New regulations aim to shield whistleblowers from retaliation while enhancing transparency in Bangladesh's financial sector.

KYC & CDD

India's NPCI Pushes Digital KYC to Simplify UPI Payments for Foreign Visitors

By Nithya Subramanian | 05/03/2026

NPCI is seeking RBI approval to allow international travellers to complete KYC digitally, making it easier to use UPI and boosting India’s push for a global digital payments ecosystem.