
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

Clearing & Post-Trade
PBOC Unveils Measures to Boost Hong Kong's RMB Hub Status
07/07/2026
The PBOC has announced expanded quotas, new platforms, and enhanced risk management tools to deepen financial connectivity with Hong Kong.

AI Risk & Governance
Landmark Review Urges UK FCA to Adopt AI-Enabled Supervision
07/07/2026
The review calls for a new supervisory model and a perimeter review to manage systemic risks from AI-driven finance.

Custody & Infrastructure
Crypto Middleware Tools May Require FMI-Like Oversight: BIS
07/07/2026
New BIS paper warns that tools meant to fix blockchain fragmentation are creating new systemic risks requiring scrutiny.

Structural Regulation
ESMA Proposes Framework to Overhaul EU Transaction Reporting
07/07/2026
The plan aims to create a single, integrated reporting model across MiFIR, EMIR and SFTR, promising significant cost savings and global alignment.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime
Australia Plans Misconduct Register to Combat Mortgage Fraud
07/07/2026
The AFCE is developing a portal to track non-compliant mortgage brokers as the country grapples with billions in suspected loan fraud.

Anti-Money Laundering
Japan FSA Outlines Strategy to Combat Surging Financial Crime
07/07/2026
The regulator detailed its latest strategy for AML/CFT, urging firms to verify control effectiveness amid a significant rise in financial crime.

CBDCs
BOJ Advances CBDC Plans, Weighing Retail and Wholesale Tracks
07/07/2026
The central bank is now formally considering a wholesale CBDC and tokenised deposits, running in parallel with its ongoing retail digital yen pilot.

Cryptocurrency
RBI Reaffirms Opposition to Crypto Legalisation in Parliament
07/07/2026
The central bank told a parliamentary committee that virtual digital assets pose a significant threat to financial stability and should not be formalised.

Anti-Money Laundering
Myanmar AML Regime Misused for Authoritarian Control, Report Finds
07/07/2026
Report argues the military junta is misusing AML rules to coerce compliance with a rigged financial system.

Anti-Money Laundering
Korea's FSS Directs Banks to Bolster AML Against New Crime Typologies
07/07/2026
The FSS directed banks to rectify control deficiencies to address the use of savings accounts, corporate cards, and foreign currency accounts for financial crimes.
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