Markets & Infrastructure

Payments & Settlements

South Korea Expands SME Loan Access via Internet-Only Banks

By Nithya Subramanian | 30/09/2025

South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups has signed an MoU with internet-only banks and credit guarantee institutions to enable easier access to finance for small businesses.

Structural Regulation

New Zealand Eases ‘Golden Visa’ Rules for Investors

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 30/09/2025

New Zealand will allow 'golden visa' holders to buy luxury homes, following a surge in applications for the revamped scheme, and will add two new skilled residency pathways.

AI Risk & Governance

Banks, FMIs Trial AI and Blockchain to Streamline Corporate Actions

By Manesh Samtani | 30/09/2025

A 24-member group including Swift, DTCC, and UBS is testing a Chainlink-powered system to create a single, verifiable source of truth for corporate action data.

Structural Regulation

Thailand to Fast-Track Market Reforms to Boost Confidence

By | 30/09/2025

The government plans a "regulatory guillotine", tax incentives, and a crackdown on illicit funds to revitalise its stock market.

Structural Regulation

KRX Chairman Outlines Planned Reforms to Tackle 'Korea Discount'

By Manesh Samtani | 30/09/2025

KRX Chairman Jeong Eun-bo has outlined plans to tighten trading rules, boost shareholder value and extend trading hours.

AI Risk & Governance

MAS to Simplify Tax Scheme, Account Opening for Family Offices

By Nithya Subramanian | 30/09/2025

MAS will ease reporting and documentation for family office tax schemes, while a new working group is targeting more efficient account opening through AI.

Cybersecurity

ACCC Authorises Coordinated Payments System Security Upgrade

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 30/09/2025

The eight-year authorisation allows financial institutions to jointly manage the industry-wide migration to the advanced encryption standard (AES) to counter future cyber threats.

Cloud & Infrastructure

Korea Data Centre Fire Cripples Financial Services, Prompts Regulatory Action

By Manesh Samtani | 30/09/2025

A fire at a state-run data hub has paralysed digital identity verification and loan services, exposing critical gaps in disaster recovery systems.

Cryptocurrency

Thai SEC Proposes to Widen 'Institutional Investor' Definition to Cover Crypto Firms

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 30/09/2025

Proposed amendments would also expand the definition of 'investments' to include digital tokens and indirect holdings for investor classification.