International

Crypto / Digital Assets

China, UAE Deepen Financial Ties with CBDC Payment, System Interlinking

By Mark Johnston | 25/11/2025

The two nations launched the mBridge CBDC platform, linked instant payment systems, and introduced a co-branded prepaid card.

Market Infrastructure

Swift Officially Ends Support for Legacy MT Messaging Standard

By Manesh Samtani | 25/11/2025

The end of the Swift MT coexistence period ushers in an era of richer data, though hurdles remain even for firms that switched to ISO 20022 on time.

Market Infrastructure

G20 Targets Debt, Regulation, and Climate Finance Gap

By Manesh Samtani | 25/11/2025

G20 communique outlines a comprehensive financial agenda, including MDB reform, crypto-asset regulation, and a USD 5.9 trillion funding need for developing nations' climate goals.

ESG / Sustainability

COP30 Climate Summit Concludes With New Adaptation Finance Goal

By Manesh Samtani | 25/11/2025

The agreement calls for tripling adaptation funds by 2035, but fails to strengthen fossil fuel phase-out language in the main text.

Sanctions

US Panel Urges Sanctions Scrutiny for Hong Kong

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 24/11/2025

A congressional advisory body has recommended secondary sanctions on Hong Kong financial institutions, alleging the city is a hub for sanctions evasion.

Fintech / Regtech

Policymakers Face 'Trilemma' in Big Tech Credit and Payments: BIS Paper

By Manesh Samtani | 24/11/2025

New paper highlights unavoidable trade-offs between expanding credit access, limiting bigtech profits, and protecting user privacy.

Securities / Derivatives

World Bank, ICMA Detail Work on New AI Tool to Streamline Bond Issuance

By Manesh Samtani | 24/11/2025

Project SHASTRA uses generative AI and ICMA's Bond Data Taxonomy to tackle post-trade inefficiencies and create a 'single source of truth'.

Fintech / Regtech

BIS Paper Says Payment Pre-validation is Key to Reducing Fraud

By Nithya Subramanian | 24/11/2025

A BIS paper warns that global adoption of payment pre-validation remains slow despite its strong potential to cut errors and curb fraud in international transactions.

AML / KYC

AML/CFT Officials Discuss FATF Work to Promote Financial Inclusion

By Manesh Samtani | 24/11/2025

The FATF is encouraging simplified measures for low-risk customers and clarifying that over-compliance is counterproductive.