Manesh Samtani
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. [email protected]
Articles by Manesh Samtani
India Overhauls Currency Management With New Master Directions
02/04/2026
The RBI has issued new directives consolidating rules on counterfeit notes, exchange facilities, and a revised framework of penalties and incentives for banks.
Crypto / Digital Assets
Hong Kong Misses March Deadline for Stablecoin Licences
02/04/2026
Senior Hong Kong officials have been saying the first stablecoin licences would be issued within March.
Trending
Cambodia Passes Landmark Anti-Scam Law with Life Sentences
02/04/2026
The new legislation introduces severe penalties for operators of online fraud centres in a bid to dismantle the country's cross-border scam industry.
Securities / Derivatives
RBI Bans Rupee NDFs, Tightens Forex Rules to Curb Volatility
02/04/2026
The central bank has prohibited non-deliverable derivatives and the rebooking of cancelled contracts to rein in speculation and stabilise the rupee.
Market Infrastructure
Swift Details Next Phase of ISO 20022 Migration Deadlines
02/04/2026
Following the end of MT/MX coexistence, Swift has outlined key upcoming milestones for address structuring, investigations, and payment initiation messages.
Fintech / Regtech
BNM Fines Bank Rakyat MYR 1 Million for Cybersecurity Breaches
02/04/2026
The penalty was imposed for inadequate controls and incident response following a 2024 cyberattack that led to unauthorised system access.
Securities / Derivatives
SC Malaysia Revises Guidelines to Facilitate Private Debt Investment
02/04/2026
The revisions, effective 30 March 2026, aim to create a formalised framework for the issuance of and investment into private debt and Islamic private debt.
Trending
SGX Announces Launch Date for APAC Government Bond Futures
02/04/2026
The new USD-settled contracts are designed to provide a standardised tool for managing sovereign interest rate risk across five key markets.
AML / KYC
OFAC Warns FIs on Sanctions Evasion Via Sham Transactions
01/04/2026
OFAC has issued an advisory detailing red flags and compliance considerations for identifying transactions designed to obscure sanctioned ownership.
Market Infrastructure
EU Payments Strategy Targets Cross-Border Links with Asia
01/04/2026
The strategy details plans for a digital euro and new rules for tokenised assets, with a significant focus on strategic autonomy.
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