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
FATF Warns of 'Digital Hawala' and Professional ML Networks
04/09/2026
New report details the evolution of underground banking, highlighting increasing digitalisation, integration with the formal financial system, and specific risks for APAC.
Tokenisation
LSE Partners With Kraken Owner to Launch Tokenised Stocks
04/09/2026
The move, part of a push into digital assets, will see tokenised UK equities traded on a new 24-hour venue, subject to regulatory approval.
Payments & Settlements
New BAFT Paper Outlines Hybrid Future for Cross-Border Payments
04/09/2026
Paper calls for a coordinated strategy, urging regulatory harmonisation to integrate digital assets with traditional payment rails safely and efficiently.
Capital Adequacy
HKMA Consults on Revamped Systemic Bank Framework
03/09/2026
The consultation refines the assessment methodology for D-SIBs, introducing new indicators for substitutability and aligning more closely with Basel standards.
Anti-Money Laundering
G20 Calls for Priority Action on Crypto AML and AI Guardrails
03/09/2026
Finance leaders have urged the FATF to enforce virtual asset standards as a priority and backed the development of principles for the responsible adoption of AI.
Market Abuse
JPX-R Targets IPO Fraud and Unfair Trading in FY2025 Review
03/09/2026
The regulator's annual report details enhanced surveillance and new countermeasures following a year marked by significant accounting scandals and market misconduct.
PEPs & Sanctions
UK Doubles Sanctions Penalties, Targets Russian Evasion Network
03/09/2026
New measures include the first-ever nationwide alert against the 'A7 network' and a doubling of the maximum fine for sanctions breaches to 100 percent of the value.
Data Privacy
Industry Pushes Back on Data Localisation in GIFT City ETP Rules
03/09/2026
Market participants have urged the GIFT City regulator to reconsider data residency rules and clarify key definitions for trading platforms.
Emerging Prudential Risks
ASEAN Urged to Rethink Supervision to Address Compounding Risks
03/09/2026
Policy brief from AMRO, CEP and The SEACEN Centre calls for new supervisory frameworks and digital finance rules to ensure sustainable prosperity.
Sustainable Finance
BAFT Proposes Guidelines for Sustainability Assessments in Trade Finance
03/09/2026
New framework aims to prevent ‘sustainability de-risking’ by offering a flexible, inclusive standard for banks in developing and developed markets.
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