摘要(英) |
With the rapid development of globalization and financial technology, the demand for cross-border remittance services continues to grow, especially amidst the global pandemic and the increasing prevalence of remote economic activities, highlighting the importance of fast and convenient remittance services. The economic market in Taiwan experiences a diversification of cross-border remittance service providers, including electronic payment institutions, remittance institutions for foreign workers, and collaborations between overseas payment institutions and domestic operators, challenging the traditional financial system and its regulatory framework.
This study focuses on the regulatory requirements and challenges faced by non-bank operators, particularly electronic payment institutions in Taiwan, when handling cross-border remittance services. It analyzes the commercial and legal framework post the amendment of the Electronic Payment Institution Act, allowing specialized electronic payment institutions to conduct domestic and international small-value remittances and examines its specific impact on business operations.
The research identifies several key issues within the current regulatory framework: First, the license design lacks flexibility, allowing only specialized electronic payment institutions to handle cross-border remittance services, coupled with a high capital requirement of up to NT$500 million, significantly raising the market entry threshold. Second, this capital requirement is relatively high compared to other financial institutions. Furthermore, the restrictions on single transactions and monthly transaction amounts reduce the operational flexibility. Last but not least, despite existing financial safety control mechanisms like identity verification and Know Your Customer (KYC), current regulations still require electronic payment institutions to collaborate with banks, leading to unnecessary regulatory costs.
The study suggests that to foster market competition and innovation and enhance the efficiency of cross-border remittance services, the current regulatory framework should be re-evaluated and adjusted. This includes increasing the flexibility of the licensing system, reducing the capital and transaction limit requirements, and simplifying financial safety restrictions. With these reformations, Taiwan has the opportunity to mitigate the slow speed and high costs of traditional bank remittance systems while protecting consumer and promoting a healthy yet competitive fintech ecosystem. |