International

Payments & Settlements

BRICS Advances SWIFT Alternative Plan, Taps Indonesia’s QRIS for Pilot

By Manesh Samtani | 11/07/2025

The BRICS group has tasked finance ministers with developing a cross-border payment system, but analysts point to significant technical and geopolitical hurdles.

Cryptocurrency

Pakistan Establishes New Regulator for Virtual Asset Market

By Nithya Subramanian | 11/07/2025

A newly formed regulator will license virtual asset providers, monitor compliance with AML laws, and support innovation through a regulatory sandbox framework.

KYC & CDD

GLEIF Approves Singapore's TradeGo as Qualified vLEI Issuer

By Editors | 11/07/2025

The integration of verifiable digital identities into TradeGo's blockchain platform is expected to cut compliance costs and streamline cross-border commodity finance.

Emerging Prudential Risks

BCBS Flags Bank-NBFI Risks, Puts Synthetic Risk Transfers Under Scrutiny

By Manesh Samtani | 11/07/2025

New BIS report warns of growing interconnections and mutual dependence, highlighting the need for better data and signalling a probe into complex risk instruments.

Clearing & Post-Trade

CFTC Extends Swap Reporting Relief Affecting Major APAC Clearing Houses

By Manesh Samtani | 11/07/2025

The relief, requested by ISDA, removes certain duplicative reporting burdens for firms clearing swaps through five DCOs in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Anti-Money Laundering

EU Adds Laos, Nepal to High-Risk AML List; Delists Philippines

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 10/07/2025

The European Parliament has endorsed changes to its high-risk country list, adding Laos and Nepal while removing the Philippines.

Reporting & Disclosures

Accountancy Bodies Issue Guidance on Materiality for ISSA 5000

By Manesh Samtani | 10/07/2025

A new report from ACCA and CA ANZ aims to ensure consistent application of the IAASB’s landmark sustainability assurance standard, ISSA 5000.

Anti-Money Laundering

Compliance Deadline Looms Large for Australian Gatekeeper Professions

By Nathan Lynch | 10/07/2025

Australia’s two-decade tango with the FATF has left “Tranche 2” businesses with little time to waste in the lead-up to 1 July 2026.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Hong Kong Launches 3rd Iteration of Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 10/07/2025

The “Charter 3.0” establishes a collaborative framework for combatting financial frauds and scams that also includes tech firms and telecos.