
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]

Enforcement
FBI Report Highlights SEA's Role in Causing Record Cybercrime Losses
08/04/2026
Report reveals record cybercrime losses in 2025, with organised crime groups in Southeast Asia and India-based call centres identified as key threats.

Fintech / Regtech
Japan FSA Backs Interbank Settlement Trial Using Tokenised Deposits
08/04/2026
FSA will support a proof-of-concept testing on-chain settlement models for tokenised deposits involving multiple banks.

Securities / Derivatives
Japan Launches New Asset Management Body, Plans Supervisory Bureau
08/04/2026
A new association has launched for Japan's asset management industry, as regulators plan a new supervisory bureau to bolster the 'asset management nation' goal.

Fintech / Regtech
Korea to Impose TradFI-Grade Controls on Crypto Exchanges
07/04/2026
Korean regulators will require virtual asset exchanges to implement five-minute balance checks, monthly external audits, and financial-company-level internal controls.

Securities / Derivatives
Vietnam Proposes Market Stabilisation Fund Amid War-Driven Sell-Off
07/04/2026
Proposals include a state-backed fund, trading curbs, and incentives for buybacks as the government seeks to calm markets and secure a key status upgrade.

Market Infrastructure
Swift Advances Blockchain-Based Ledger to Build Phase
06/04/2026
The new shared ledger will use tokenised deposits to enable 24/7 cross-border payments, with a live MVP planned for 2026.

Securities / Derivatives
UN SSE, IFC Launch Guidance for Board Oversight of ISSB Reporting
06/04/2026
New model guidance and training aim to help corporate boards navigate the complexities of sustainability-related financial disclosures.

Trending
Japan to Launch System for Sharing Fraud Data in April 2027
03/04/2026
The initiative aims to accelerate the freezing of accounts used for financial crimes amid record losses from scams.

Fintech / Regtech
Japan Finalises Stricter AML/CFT Guidelines for Financial Firms
03/04/2026
Revised rules clarify requirements for risk assessments, technology adoption, and the management of outsourced functions, and will apply immediately.

Crypto / Digital Assets
Korea: Naver-Dunamu Merger Delayed by Antitrust Review, Crypto Legislation
03/04/2026
The deal is now slated for September, facing scrutiny from the FTC and uncertainty over a proposed Digital Asset Basic Act that could cap shareholder stakes.
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