Regional

Market Infrastructure

APAC Banks Boost Cyber Spend but Lag on Third Party Risk Management

By Manesh Samtani | 26/09/2025

A new Moody's Ratings survey finds Asia-Pacific banks are increasing cyber budgets but trail North American peers in areas like mandating cyber insurance for vendors and AI policy.

Capital / Liquidity

ASEAN Launches Private Markets Council to Tackle Funding Gap

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 23/09/2025

The new council aims to reduce regulatory friction and triple private capital investment to address the region's limited capacity to fund high-growth companies.

AML / KYC

Vietnam Overhauls AML/CFT Framework with New Inter-Agency Rules

By Mark Johnston | 17/09/2025

The Ministry of Public Security has been designated as lead coordinator and is able to set firm deadlines for information sharing among government bodies.

AML / KYC

ASEAN Attorneys General Launch Regional Pact on Transnational Crime

By Nithya Subramanian | 16/09/2025

The Sanur Bali Declaration creates a new regional forum to strengthen cooperation against transnational crime, including scams, money laundering and asset smuggling.

AML / KYC

ASEAN Adopts 10-year Action Plan Against Transnational Crime

By Nithya Subramanian | 16/09/2025

ASEAN ministers have elevated cybercrime and online scams as the region’s top security concern while backing initiatives on money laundering and illegal migration.

ESG / Sustainability

20 More Lenders Join IFC's Alliance for Green Commercial Banks

By Nithya Subramanian | 11/09/2025

The new joiners include leading institutions from eight APAC markets, along with BNP Paribas, with collective assets exceeding USD 5.6 trillion.

AML / KYC

Asia-Pacific Countries Join Forces to Battle USD 37 Billion Scams Industry

By Nathan Lynch | 10/09/2025

ASEAN nations are uniting against a $37B scam epidemic, deploying technology, intelligence sharing and education to protect citizens from increasingly sophisticated criminal threats.

Sanctions

FATF Should Police Ship Registries to Curb Sanctions Evasion, Says RUSI

By Manesh Samtani | 05/09/2025

The FATF should assess flag states to close loopholes used by sanctions-busting 'shadow fleets' from North Korea and others, RUSI argues in a new report.

AML / KYC

Malaysia to Push for ASEAN Money Laundering Working Group

By Nithya Subramanian | 01/09/2025

The initiative, led by Malaysia’s Home Ministry and central bank, aims to strengthen cooperation against financial crimes that affect all 10 member states.