Regulators released comprehensive guidance to banks, intermediaries, and insurers on virtual asset-related activities.
Key Points:
..Banks and intermediaries looking to provide distribution, dealing, and advisory...more
The HKMA’s discussion paper seeks feedback on its proposed regulatory approach to stablecoins, with responses due by 31 March 2022.
On 12 January 2022, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Hong Kong’s principal...more
The guidelines set out the MAS’ expectation that digital payment token service providers should not promote their services to the general public in Singapore.
On 17 January 2022, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the...more
The global central bank cooperative body envisions stablecoins within the context of international standards for payment, clearing, and settlement systems.
Among the different types of digital assets, global authorities...more
10/20/2021
/ Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ,
Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructure (CPMI) ,
Consultation ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Stability Board ,
Information Reports ,
IOSCO ,
Risk Management ,
Security Risk Assessments ,
Stablecoins ,
U.S. Treasury
The global asset management community has long been among the leaders in recognising the investment and risk management benefits of tracking the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of the assets it invests...more
10/4/2021
/ Asset Management ,
Business Strategies ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Germany ,
Global Standards ,
Hong Kong ,
Investment Management ,
Multinationals ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Singapore ,
Sustainability ,
UK
Latham & Watkins lawyers discuss the emerging technology of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), including how they function and their various legal implications in the US, UK, and APAC.
Topics:
• Understanding NFTs and their...more
8/2/2021
/ Asia Pacific ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
BitLicense ,
Copyright ,
Copyright Ownership ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Media ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
IP License ,
License Agreements ,
Money Transmitter ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
UK ,
Virtual Currency
The Hong Kong government has issued its widely anticipated consultation conclusions on a new framework to regulate virtual asset exchanges. On 21 May 2021, the Hong Kong Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB)...more
5/26/2021
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Anti-Terrorism Financing ,
Consultation ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
FinTech ,
Hong Kong ,
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HKSFC) ,
Licenses ,
Market Participants ,
Peer-to-Peer ,
Regulatory Requirements
For market participants pivoting toward ESG and digital assets, weighing the issues at the crossroads of these two megatrends is critical.
The huge rise in popularity of Bitcoin - and the growing interest by mainstream...more
4/13/2021
/ AML/CFT ,
Blockchain ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Digital Assets ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Paris Agreement ,
Popular ,
Risk Management
The paper proposes standards of conduct for intermediaries involved in bookbuilding and placing activities in ECM and DCM transactions.
On 8 February 2021, the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC)...more
Throughout 2020, cryptocurrencies experienced incremental progress towards the mainstream as institutional investors and financial institutions made positive statements about the nascent asset class, an increasing number of...more
1/29/2021
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Banking Sector ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Investment Firms ,
Investors ,
Popular ,
Virtual Currency
Regulators consult on an investor identification regime and outsourcing requirements, and issue guidance on electronic storage of regulatory records and environmental risk management -
This blog post summarises key...more
Regulators propose new regulations for virtual asset exchanges and enhanced customer identity verification requirements, and launch an innovative commercial data interchange.
This blog post summarises key regulatory...more
12/9/2020
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Consultation ,
Data-Sharing ,
Financial Institutions ,
FinTech ,
Hong Kong ,
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) ,
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HKSFC) ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Singapore ,
Trading Platforms ,
Verification Requirements ,
Virtual Currency
Hong Kong government issued a consultation to implement a new regulatory framework requiring virtual asset exchanges to be regulated by the SFC -
Key Points:
..The Hong Kong Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau...more
The HKMA introduces a new data sharing initiative, reported on the central bank digital currency initiative, and outlined regtech plans.
The fifth annual Hong Kong Fintech Week conference kicked off with speeches and panels...more
11/4/2020
/ Blockchain ,
Commercial Loans ,
Data-Sharing ,
Digital Currency ,
Exports ,
Financial Institutions ,
FinTech ,
Hong Kong ,
Imports ,
Open Banking ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ,
White Papers
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission’s introduces new licensing regime to regulate previously unregulated markets and restates expectations regarding security token offerings.
The second day of Hong Kong Fintech...more
A collaborative project led by the Global Blockchain Business Council represents an unprecedented effort to analyze the technical and regulatory blockchain landscape.
On October 14, 2020, the Global Blockchain Business...more
Regulators consult on anti-money laundering guidelines and issue guidance on cybersecurity, best execution, and senior management accountability.
This blog post summarizes key regulatory developments in Hong Kong and...more
10/14/2020
/ AML/CFT ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Anti-Terrorism Financing ,
Best Execution ,
Compliance ,
Cybersecurity ,
Financial Institutions ,
Hong Kong ,
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HKSFC) ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Senior Managers ,
Singapore
Crypto-asset trading is a fast-growing part of the financial sector. Some countries have wholeheartedly embraced crypto-assets; others have been reticent to permit widespread adoption. Generally, countries have interpreted...more
Amidst its continued regulatory focus on money laundering and terrorist financing risks, the SFC seeks to clarify and consolidate guidance for licensed firms.
On 18 September 2020, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures...more
10/2/2020
/ AML/CFT ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FATF ,
Hong Kong ,
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HKSFC) ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Risk Assessment
Regulators are consulting on how to enhance trust business regulation, introduce new omnibus legislation, and encourage best practices in sustainable banking.
This blog post summarises key regulatory developments in Hong...more
Regulators seek to expand market connectivity for wealth management products and enhance financial institutions’ environmental risk management.
This blog post summarises key regulatory developments in Hong Kong and...more
The SFC’s consultation conclusions carve out non-financial groups and multilateral portfolio compression services.
On 12 June 2020, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) published its conclusions (Consultation...more
Regulators seek to address “rolling bad apples”, bank culture reform, and cryptocurrency derivatives.
This blog post summarises key regulatory developments that took place in Hong Kong and Singapore in May 2020, as...more
The report encourages the G20 to consider a broad set of supervisory principles when evaluating global stablecoin arrangements.
On April 14, 2020, the G20’s Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a consultation on the...more
Market participants must treat clients fairly and exercise care when recommending potentially volatile or illiquid products.
In response to ongoing volatility in local and international markets caused by the COVID-19...more