This book focuses on Fintech regulation in Asian, situating local
developments in broader economic, regulatory and technological contexts.
Over the last decade, Fintech - broadly defined as the use of new
information technologies to help financial institutions and
intermediaries compete in the marketplace - has disrupted the financial
services sector. Like other 21st century technological developments,
Fintech is a global phenomenon that plays out in local economic,
political and regulatory contexts, and this dynamic interplay between
global trends and local circumstances has created a complex and
fast-changing landscape.
Diverse stakeholders (most obviously incumbent financial service
providers, tech start-ups and regulators) all pursue a competitive edge
against a background of profound uncertainty about the future direction
and possible effects of multiple emerging technologies. Compounding
these difficulties are uncertainties surrounding regulatory responses.
Policymakers often struggle to identify appropriate regulatory responses
and increasingly turn to policy experimentation. Such issues add to the
challenges for the various actors operating in the Fintech space. This
situation is particularly fluid in Asia, since many jurisdictions are
seeking to establish themselves as a regional hub for new financial
services.