Regulation Asia | Financial Regulatory Intelligence and Analysis

OPINIONS & ANALYSIS

AUSTRAC Pioneers AML/CTF Compliance "Starter Kits" for Gatekeeper Professions

by Nathan Lynch

The starter kits deliver practical, step-by-step AML/CTF compliance tools and help level the playing field for smaller gatekeeper businesses, AUSTRAC's Daniel Mossop says.

Silver’s Surge Demands a New Approach to Managing Laundering Risks

by Nathan Lynch

With silver reaching all-time highs, financial crime experts warn that the metal’s growing “value density” and lower regulatory scrutiny are making it an attractive alternative for illicit transactions.

Liquidity Risk in the Spotlight as SFC Private Credit Consultation Ends

by Blake Evans-Pritchard

The SFC allows individual funds to decide how to best manage liquidity, but this may have to change for retail investment in private credit.

Australia Confirms Deferral of Major AML/CTF Reforms

by Nathan Lynch

Home Affairs is consulting on transitional rules to delay IVTS reporting, stagger independent evaluations, and ease compliance burdens for Tranche 1 and 2 entities.

FEATURES

China Bans Unapproved Yuan Stablecoins, Sets Rules for Asset Tokenisation

New rules prohibit issuance of CNY-pegged stablecoins without approval and create a regulated pathway for real-world asset tokenisation, imposing new duties on financial institutions.

Manesh Samtani

09 Feb 2026•3 min read

Korea to Grant FIU Powers to Freeze Accounts in AML Overhaul

The plan will also expand the crypto “travel rule”, impose AML duties on stablecoin issuers, and target lawyers and accountants to meet FATF standards.

Mark Johnston

09 Feb 2026•2 min read

Japan Proposes Rules for Handling Foreign-Issued Stablecoins

The proposals would bring certain foreign trust-based stablecoins into Japan's regulatory framework, imposing strict equivalence and due diligence rules on local handlers.

Manesh Samtani

04 Feb 2026•3 min read

China to Impose Strict New Cybercrime Duties on Financial Firms

New rules mandate dynamic ID checks, payment monitoring, and cross-border asset freezes, with heavy penalties for non-compliance by financial service providers.

Manesh Samtani

03 Feb 2026•3 min read

SGX Consults on Shift to Omnibus Broker Custody Model

SGX RegCo has proposed rule changes to allow wider use of broker custody accounts, aiming to align Singapore’s post-trade framework with global practices.

Nithya Subramanian

02 Feb 2026•4 min read

AUSTRAC Pioneers AML/CTF Compliance "Starter Kits" for Gatekeeper Professions

The starter kits deliver practical, step-by-step AML/CTF compliance tools and help level the playing field for smaller gatekeeper businesses, AUSTRAC's Daniel Mossop says.

Nathan Lynch

30 Jan 2026•6 min read

Singapore Unveils Framework to Govern Autonomous AI Deployment

Singapore has introduced a new Model AI Governance Framework for agentic AI, setting out principles to manage risks while reinforcing human accountability and international cooperation in AI oversight.

Nithya Subramanian

29 Jan 2026•2 min read