United States

AML / KYC

US DOJ Forms Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force

By Editors | 06/06/2021

The task force will be used to coordinate efforts to combat ransomware attacks, which will now be treated with the severity of terrorism threats.

AML / KYC

Philippine Financing, Lending Firms Must Register with AMLC by 21 June

By Editors | 04/06/2021

Newly covered financing and lending companies that fail to register with the AMLC by 21 June will incur penalties.

AML / KYC

Biden Executive Order Amends, Clarifies China Blacklist

By Manesh Samtani | 04/06/2021

The revised EO is clearer, addresses many of the problem areas in the old EO, and is more enforceable, says Nick Turner at Steptoe & Johnson.

Crypto / Digital Assets

DeFi May Be Subject to Licensing Requirement, Warns Thai SEC

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 03/06/2021

The SEC warned that failure to obtain a licence for the issuance of digital tokens on DeFi platforms could be punishable under the Digital Assets Act.

Securities / Derivatives

Philippine SEC Issues Draft Guidelines for ASEAN CIS Framework

By Editors | 03/06/2021

The draft guidelines will operationalise the supplemental MOU signed last month to admit the Philippines to the ASEAN CIS framework.

Enforcement

Philippine Court Jails Broker for Illegal Trading in 1999

By Editors | 30/05/2021

The court’s decision represents the first conviction won by the SEC after two decades of pursuing stockbrokers and investors linked to the case.

AML / KYC

DOJ Settles Julius Baer Money Laundering Probe for $80m

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 28/05/2021

Julius Baer admitted it conspired to launder over $36mn in bribes through the US to soccer officials with FIFA and other soccer federations.

Securities / Derivatives

Thailand SEC Approves New Criteria for SME Fundraising

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 27/05/2021

The new fundraising criteria for SMEs and startups proposed by the stock exchange are expected to become effective this year.

ESG / Sustainability

Biden Directs US Federal Agencies to Take Action on Climate

By Editors | 25/05/2021

Under an executive order, a comprehensive government-wide strategy on climate-related financial risk shall be developed within 120 days.