While reports indicate that India has the highest virtual digital asset (“VDA”) adoption across jurisdictions, we are yet to see any concrete movement on a corresponding regulatory framework to govern the sector and provide legal clarity.Continue Reading FIG Paper (No. 41 – VDA Series 4) Global Crypto Developments: Lessons for India’s Regulatory Regime in 2025.
Background:
The rapid development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) and Machine Learning (“ML”) tools by market participants over the course of the past year prompted the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) to issue, on November 13, 2024, a consultation paper on “Proposed amendments with respect to assigning responsibility for the use of Artificial Intelligence Tools by Market Infrastructure Institutions, Registered Intermediaries and other persons regulated by SEBI” (“Draft Amendments”), seeking public suggestions on a series of amendments to the extant regulations.Continue Reading SEBI’s Proposed New Amendments on Usage of AI Tools by Regulated Entities
Semiconductors, often just called ‘chips’, are the building blocks of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones to military equipment. These tiny devices have become cornerstones of global power and influence, driving geopolitical and economic competition. Unlike other partnerships and joint ventures (“JVs”), the semiconductor space has its own unique set of considerations, which go beyond the usual ones, like setting up the entity, equity contribution, right and obligations of parties and exit terms.Continue Reading Semiconductor Partnerships: Key Considerations
With over 1,700 Global Capability Centers (“GCCs”), revenues at $64.6 billion (a 40% jump over FY23 numbers) and a 17% global share of the GCC capacity base, India is the GCC Capital of the World. The GCC market in India is projected to grow to $99-105 billion by 2030 with nearly 2,100-2,200 GCCs and a headcount of ~2.5-2.8 million.[1]Continue Reading Global Capability Centers – Trends, Opportunities and Recent Learnings
While ministerial discussions on cryptocurrency regulation had been taking place at the G-20 level, we are expecting the Department of Economic Affairs (“DEA”) may come out with a consultation paper for regulating virtual digital assets (“VDA”) as soon as October this year.Continue Reading FIG Paper (No. 39 – Series 3): Recent Learnings from the Indian Virtual Digital Assets Regulatory Space
Global M&A activity in the financial services sector appears to have slowed, despite a strong start in 2024, in line with general market trends. The Financial Institutions Group (“FIG”) is experiencing a unique phase of consolidation, with deal values increasing despite a significant decline in deal volume. This trend can be seen in a 5% YoY rise in deal value and a 30% drop in volume in the first half of 2024[1], suggesting a shift towards larger, strategic mergers.[2]Continue Reading FIG Paper (No. 38): M&A in FIG Space: Recent Trends and Shifts
Continue Reading FIG Paper (No. 37 – Series 1) | SEBI Proposes to Introduce ‘New Asset Class’
This FIG Paper highlights recent trends in enforcement actions of the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) against different financial institutions, which has seen a significant 88% rise since 2021.Continue Reading FIG Paper (No. 36 – Series 1): Analysing RBI’s Enforcement Trends (2022-24)
In our previous two FIG Papers of PA/PG Framework (here) and (here), we shared our key learnings in connection with operations of payment aggregator and payment gateway guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) on March 17, 2020 (as amended from time to time) (“PA/PG Guidelines”).Continue Reading FIG Paper (No 35- Payments Series 3)– The new Draft Directions for Regulations of Payment Aggregator