INTERNATIONAL

Market Infrastructure

EU Adopts Amended BMR, Easing Access to Foreign Benchmarks

By Manesh Samtani | 25/03/2025

The amended BMR will ensure benchmarks published in Asia and other third countries can continue to be used in the EU to hedge interest rate and FX risks.

AML / KYC

FinCEN Issues Interim Final Rule on Beneficial Ownership Reporting

By Manesh Samtani | 24/03/2025

Only entities formed under the law of a foreign country and that have registered to do business in the US will have to report their BOI to FinCEN.

Sanctions

OFAC Removes Crypto Mixer Tornado Cash from Sanctions List

By Manesh Samtani | 24/03/2025

The decision follows a court decision that Tornado Cash’s smart contracts do not qualify as ‘property’ under the IEEPA.

Fintech / Regtech

IOSCO Launches New Portal to Combat Investment Fraud

By Mark Johnston | 24/03/2025

I-SCAN aggregates alerts from over 150 financial regulators worldwide, allowing investors to check whether a company or investment has been flagged as unlicensed or fraudulent.

Sanctions

US Sanctions Chinese Oil Refinery for Buying Iranian Oil

By Manesh Samtani | 21/03/2025

8 vessels and 12 additional entities were also sanctioned, including the owner of an oil storage terminal in China’s Huizhou Port.

ESG / Sustainability

Japan’s Largest Bank Set to Exit Net-Zero Banking Alliance

By Thisanka Siripala | 21/03/2025

MUFG will reportedly join Nomura Holdings and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group in withdrawing from the NZBA.

AML / KYC

Europol Report Flags Asia as Key Hub for Financial Crime

By Thisanka Siripala | 20/03/2025

Organised crime groups are leveraging Asia’s financial networks, trade zones, and digital platforms to move illicit funds globally, a new report states.

AML / KYC

Crypto and Fintech Are Reshaping Terrorist Financing – Report

By Nithya Subramanian | 18/03/2025

The Global Terrorism Index 2025 reveals that cryptocurrencies, AI deepfakes, and illicit gold mining are providing new revenue streams for terrorist organisations.

AML / KYC

More Information Sharing Needed to Fight Financial Crime – Report

By Nithya Subramanian | 17/03/2025

A new Future of Financial Intelligence Sharing (FFIS) report compares AML information-sharing frameworks across six jurisdictions.