Tagged: regulations

Kenya: Experts Criticize Digital Lenders Over high Interest Rates

Experts in Kenya have criticized digital lenders for charging high interest rates, often perceived as infringing consumer rights. Reportedly, the average interest rate for a 30-day digital loan ranges from 20-30% for online lenders, based on the borrower’s risk profile. For a Sh1,000 loan, the… Read More

Indonesia: Central Bank Issues Ethical Guidelines on AI for Fintech

Indonesia’s central bank, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), has partnered with the country’s fintech associations to issue what it describes as ethical guidelines on artificial intelligence (AI) use in the context of the fintech industry. The guidelines were formulated in collaboration with four leading fintech… Read More

No Set Timeline Yet For Implementation of G20 Crypto Regulation

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that while the G20 has embraced the “G20 roadmap on Crypto Sssets“, there is currently no set timeline for its implementation yet. Sitharaman made the pronouncement as she discussed the progress on the ‘G20 roadmap on Crypto Assets’. This… Read More

Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi Beef Up Fintech Cooperation

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have announced a significant development in fintech collaboration through the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement focuses on enhancing cross-border trade-related data… Read More

Cryptocurrency: India Trains 3,000 Police in Crypto Forensics as Cybercrime Rises

India has trained over 3,000 personnel from various cybercrime and police departments to bolster their capabilities in tackling cryptocurrency-related crimes. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s annual report, India provided specialized training in cryptocurrency forensics and investigations during the financial year 2022-2023. A… Read More

Fenergo Report: Investment Banks Address “Intensified” Regulatory Reform, Struggle to Match Compliance Staffing for KYC Reviews

US investment banks have less budget and workforce to devote to fighting financial crime and adhere to changing regulation, according to the 2023 KYC Banking Trends Report by Fenergo, the provider of digital solutions for Know Your Customer (KYC), Transaction Monitoring and Client Lifecycle Management… Read More

Stablecoin Adoption: FCA and Bank of England Release Proposals for Regulating Stablecoins

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England are requesting feedback on their proposed approach to regulating stablecoins. The Bank’s proposals cover “any payment systems in the future that use stablecoins in the UK at systemic scale.” Stablecoins are a new type of… Read More

Philippines: SEC Empowers Crowdfunding Platforms as Official Registrars

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) now allows crowdfunding platforms to register as official gatekeepers of qualified institutional and individual investors, a move that forms part of the government’s efforts to bolster the capital market. This development stems from the SEC’s latest issuance, Memorandum… Read More

Singapore central bank proposes streamlined regulatory framework for fund managers

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has initiated a public consultation process as it seeks to revamp the regulatory framework governing fund managers. The proposal aims to disband the existing Registered Fund Management Companies (RFMCs) regime, providing an opportunity for current RFMCs to transition to… Read More

Qatar Central Bank Issues Loan-Based Crowdfunding Regulation

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has issued the Loan-Based Crowdfunding Regulation for the purpose of licensing and regulating loan-based crowdfunding activities and services in Qatar. The move forms part of QCB’s permanent endeavor to regulate and develop the financial sector in the country and is line… Read More

Digital Banking: Bank of Thailand Postpones Release of Virtual Bank Licensing Regulations

Mr. Tharith Panpiemras, Assistant Governor of the Financial Institutions Policy Group, announced that after the Bank of Thailand (BOT) released the Virtual Bank Licensing Framework for public consultation “between January 12 and February 12, 2023, the BOT reportedly received questions and helpful feedback from stakeholders… Read More

European Union Smart Contract Regulatory Guidelines Released in Council’s Data Act Draft

Smart contracts will reportedly have to include a “kill switch” under an update of the European Union’s (EU) Data Act which was recently released by the bloc’s member states on Monday (March 27, 2023). The European Union’s Council, which is focused on representing national governments,… Read More

Canada: FINTRAC Requires Charity Platforms to Comply with AML/KYC Rules, NCFA Criticizes Regulatory Move

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) is now requiring charity platforms to perform AML/KYC processes on transactions. FINTRAC already requires crowdfunding platforms that provide services to raise funds or virtual currency and certain payment service providers to register as money services… Read More

High Powered Digital Asset, Blockchain Leaders Comment on SEC’s Proposed Rule Changes Impacting ATSs, Definition of Exchanges

In late January, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed amendments to the Exchange Act and the definition of an Exchange as well as Regulation ATS (Alternative Trading System). The proposal was opened to comments with a deadline of this week (April 18). The SEC… Read More

Former SEC Official Predicts End of Businesses Accepting Cryptocurrency, Labels Crypto a “Menacing Cancer”

At least one former enforcement executive from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is predicting the demise of crypto – or at least a significant setback for digital assets. John Reed Stark, former head of the SEC’s Internet Enforcement team says that new rules from… Read More

Sheila Warren and Sumedha Deshmukh from WEF Explain Why Effective Crypto Regulations Take Time and Caution

Sheila Warren, Deputy Head of the C4IR; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum,  and Sumedha Deshmukh Platform Curator, Blockchain and Digital Currency, World Economic Forum, recently published their views on why effective cryptocurrency regulations will take time to develop. As noted (on August… Read More

Vietnam to carry out a pilot to study crypto’s role in creating digital govt

Vietnam is the latest among smaller nations to have joined the crypto bandwagon as the country is developing a strategy towards having a digital government. In the last few weeks, countries such as El Salvador, Portugal, and Philipinnes have introduced regulations around cryptocurrencies. Vietnam’s Prime… Read More

Global Banks Taking Proactive Tech Approach in 2021: Finastra

Global bank investment strategies are becoming more proactive, data from a Finastra survey suggest. Finastra surveyed 785 professionals from institutions in the US, UK, Singapore, France, Germany, Hong Kong, and the UAE for Financial Services: State of the Nation Survey 2021. In 2021 banks’ top… Read More

SEC Commissioners Peirce and Roisman Criticize Chair Gensler’s Regulatory Agenda While Pointing to Missing Digital Asset Rules

Following the revelation of the regulatory agenda for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the leadership of Chair Gary Gensler, two Commissioners have issued a statement criticizing the list of rules and regulations the Commission is expected to tackle in the coming months. Additionally,… Read More

SEC Outlines Regulatory Agenda, Exempt Securities Top the List Including Reg D, Accredited Investor Definition

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has outlined its regulatory agenda for the coming months and at the top of the list are exempt securities that include Reg D and perhaps other exemptions such as Reg CF and Reg A+. Of note, is that the… Read More

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