Regulation Asia | Financial Regulatory Intelligence and Analysis

OPINIONS & ANALYSIS

Claws of Crime: Local AI Agents Pose Fresh Threat for AML/CTF Teams

by Nathan Lynch

Locally run AI agents like OpenClaw, operating beyond cloud guardrails on cheap hardware, risk unleashing a cottage industry of sophisticated financial crime.

What Singapore’s AML Leaders Are Learning About AI – the Hard Way

by Bradley Maclean

A closed-door industry roundtable highlights how MAS scrutiny, auditor oversight and data constraints are turning AI adoption from a compliance solution into a more exacting test of execution and accountability.

Asia Weighs Trade-Off Between FX Market Openness and Stability

by Blake Evans-Pritchard

Indonesia’s equity shock underscores the dangers of liberalising FX markets without careful structural reform.

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.

FEATURES

FATF Sets Sights on Global Fraud and Crypto Risks

The FATF added Papua New Guinea and Kuwait to its grey list, adopted Singapore's mutual evaluation, and approved new reports on cyber-enabled fraud and virtual assets.

Manesh Samtani

15 Feb 2026•4 min read

Budget 2026: Singapore Pledges to Boost Equities, Startups, AI Adoption

Measures include multi-billion-dollar top-ups for equity market funds, expanded support for growth-stage startups, and a new national AI strategy.

Nithya Subramanian

15 Feb 2026•5 min read

SFC Unveils Rules for Crypto Margin Trading, Perps, and Market Making

The new measures, part of the ASPIRe roadmap, were announced at the Consensus 2026 conference and aim to boost liquidity for licensed crypto firms.

Sanday Chongo Kabange

13 Feb 2026•5 min read

Hong Kong Move to T+1 Not a Main Priority for Market Participants

While a shorter settlement cycle could attract mainland investors, market participants want HKEX to prioritise Stock Connect enhancements.

Manesh Samtani

11 Feb 2026•2 min read

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

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