
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

Crypto / Digital Assets
ESMA Calls on EU Commission to Clarify Aspects of DLT Pilot Regime
08/04/2024
Four applications have been received and eight others are expected in 2024, but no authorisations have been granted under the Regime.

Crypto / Digital Assets
New BIS Project Seeks Overhaul of Global Payment System
04/04/2024
Seven central banks will develop common infrastructure that can accommodate tokenised versions of wholesale central bank money and commercial bank deposits.

Big Picture
Industry Bodies Push Back Against BCBS Crypto Treatment
04/04/2024
ISDA, GFMA, FIA and other trade bodies say banks should not be penalised for trying to innovate with public permissionless blockchains.

Securities / Derivatives
BOK Forms Work Group to Promote Greater Use of KOFR
03/04/2024
Policymakers and industry participants are concerned that the widely-used CD rate may not be recognised internationally in the future.

Crypto / Digital Assets
HKMA to Explore Common Industry Standards for Digital Money
02/04/2024
Phase 2 of HKMA’s e-HKD testing initiative will explore the development of standards on interoperability and smart contract design.

AML / KYC
New Requirements Commencing for Crypto Firms in Singapore
02/04/2024
The amendments take effect in stages from 4 April 2024, with transitional arrangements for firms currently conducting activities under the expanded scope of the Payment Services Act.

Crypto / Digital Assets
HKMA to Soon Issue Guidelines for Banks on DLT Adoption
02/04/2024
HKMA’s Raymond Chan said the new guidelines will not be binding nor exhaustive, but they will provide a “helpful benchmark” for banks looking to plan and develop DLT solutions.

AML / KYC
FATF Sheds Light on Global Implementation of Crypto Standards
31/03/2024
91% of jurisdictions with materially important VASP activity have enacted or are in the process of enacting AML/CTF requirements for VASPs.

Market Infrastructure
UK Starts Preparing for Move to T+1 Settlement Cycle
31/03/2024
Some operational changes will be implemented by end-2025, to enable the market to prepare for a full transition to T+1 before end-2027.

AML / KYC
Singapore: ACIP Sheds Light on Use of Data Analytics for AML/CFT
30/03/2024
New paper discusses current and future uses of data analytics for AML/CFT, and how information shared over COSMIC could be leveraged to enhance such solutions.
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