Regulation Asia

OPINIONS & ANALYSIS

Regulatory Lag Leaves Australia Open to 'Upstream' Crime Threats

by Bradley Maclean

Senior financial crime leaders warn that while threats are increasingly global and sophisticated, domestic regulatory frameworks and information-sharing mechanisms are failing to keep pace.

India’s Mutual Fund Reforms: A Foundation Built, A Future Unfinished

by Saurabh Maheshwari

SEBI’s reforms mark a significant step in modernising a decades-old framework, but further strengthening is needed in areas of governance, competence, and market conduct.

Japanese FIs Could Be Underpricing Climate Risk as Litigation Heats Up

by Blake Evans-Pritchard

Structural barriers in Japan’s courts shield banks from immediate legal exposure, but pressures are building.

Australia's Open-Source CDD Could Be Model for Asia-Pacific

by Nathan Lynch

AUSTRAC’s starter kits legitimise open-source CDD for small reporting entities, marking a possible solution for developing countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

FEATURES

Japan Finalises Stricter AML/CFT Guidelines for Financial Firms

Revised rules clarify requirements for risk assessments, technology adoption, and the management of outsourced functions, and will apply immediately.

Manesh Samtani

03 Apr 2026•3 min read

Australia Passes Law to Bring Crypto Under AFSL Regime

New legislation designed to improve consumer protection and market integrity will require crypto exchanges and custody providers to obtain an AFS licence.

Sanday Chongo Kabange

03 Apr 2026•4 min read

Sweeping AML/CTF Reforms Take Effect in Australia

The reforms expand the AML/CTF regime to lawyers, accountants and other professional and property sectors, and introduce new travel rule obligations for value transfers, including crypto.

Manesh Samtani

31 Mar 2026•4 min read

MAS Details Plan to Become APAC Gold Trading Hub

The plan focuses on new products, market infrastructure, and central bank services to capture growing investor demand for bullion.

Nithya Subramanian

30 Mar 2026•3 min read

UK Sanctions Crypto Marketplace and Cambodia Scam Centre Network

The action targets Chinese-language marketplace Xinbi, which processed nearly USD 20 billion, and operators of a Cambodian scam compound under the UK’s Global Human Rights regime.

Nithya Subramanian

27 Mar 2026•3 min read

Australia's Open-Source CDD Could Be Model for Asia-Pacific

AUSTRAC’s starter kits legitimise open-source CDD for small reporting entities, marking a possible solution for developing countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

Nathan Lynch

25 Mar 2026•7 min read

MAS Releases AI Risk Management Toolkit for Financial Sector

The comprehensive toolkit, developed with industry, provides detailed guidance and firm-specific examples for managing risks from traditional to agentic AI.

Nithya Subramanian

23 Mar 2026•4 min read