Manesh Samtani
Manesh Samtani is the Editor at Regulation Asia, where he leads the regional news desk from Hong Kong, directing coverage of critical regulatory developments impacting financial services across APAC. Manesh specialises in analysing how new rules and technologies are reshaping banking, capital markets, and the fight against financial crime, providing finance professionals, compliance leaders, and policymakers with the intelligence they need to navigate risk and understand the impact of regulatory change in the region. manesh@regulationasia.com
Articles by Manesh Samtani
Anti-Money Laundering
AUSTRAC Chief Urges Shift Away From ‘Checklist’ Regulation
11/05/2026
AUSTRAC’s CEO says a rules-based approach is failing and has called for deeper public-private partnerships and joint analytics to combat evolving criminal threats.
Cryptocurrency
Korea's Bithumb Partners With Vietnam Brokerage for Crypto Licence
11/05/2026
Korea's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange signed an MOU with a subsidiary of Vietnam's largest securities firm SSI Securities.
Capital Adequacy
China NFRA Proposes Overhaul of Rules for Rural Lenders
11/05/2026
The draft rules are expected to force consolidation by hiking capital minimums and requiring principal sponsors to hold a majority stake.
PEPs & Sanctions
US Sanctions China, HK Firms in Iran Procurement Network
10/05/2026
The latest sanctions target entities across Asia and the Middle East, putting foreign financial institutions on notice of potential secondary sanctions.
Stablecoins
South Korea Bank Stablecoin Pilot Adopts Post-Quantum Security
08/05/2026
A Korean bank-led stablecoin proof-of-concept is using post-quantum cryptography, setting a potential new security benchmark for digital currency projects.
PEPs & Sanctions
New Zealand Sanctions Russian Cyber Actors and Payment Networks
08/05/2026
The package targets 20 individuals and entities involved in hybrid warfare, sanctions evasion, and military supply chains supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Structural Regulation
Korea Revamps Omnibus Account Rules for Foreign Investors
08/05/2026
Authorities will allow encrypted IDs in place of personal data for foreign investors using omnibus accounts to improve market access.
Nature & Biodiversity
WWF Urges Regulators to Treat Water Crisis as Systemic Financial Threat
07/05/2026
New guide calls on central banks and supervisors to integrate water resilience into financial stability mandates, warning of a "dangerous feedback loop".
Structural Regulation
Key Asian FX Benchmarks Exempted from EU Regulation
07/05/2026
The decision provides certainty for EU firms using benchmarks for the Indian rupee, Korean won, Philippine peso and Taiwan dollar to hedge currency risks.
DeFi & Web3
DeFi Sector Faces Investor Exodus After High-Profile Hacks
07/05/2026
Nearly USD 14 billion has been withdrawn from the DeFi space following major hacks that have raised security concerns.
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
An exclusive weekly selection of top stories from the Regulation Asia editorial team.