The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a 60 day notice inviting public comment on the renewal of the Office of Management and Budget control number covering the Registration of Money Services Business (RMSB) framework. Published on 30 April 2026, the notice relates to requirements set out in 31 CFR 1022.380 and the continued use of FinCEN Form 107. The RMSB regime forms a core part of the Bank Secrecy Act compliance architecture in the United States, req

The Department for Business and Trade has introduced new Sanctions End-Use Controls (SEUC), marking a significant escalation in the UK’s efforts to prevent the circumvention of trade sanctions. Published on 22 April 2026, the guidance clarifies how exporters must respond where there is a credible risk that goods routed through third countries could ultimately reach sanctioned jurisdictions or individuals. At its core, SEUC creates a targeted licensing mechanism. Unlike tradit

The forthcoming Sanctions EU Exit Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2026 introduce a series of targeted but operationally significant changes to the UK sanctions framework. While largely technical in nature, the reforms are clearly designed to streamline compliance obligations, remove inconsistencies and enhance the flexibility of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation OFSI. A notable change is the shift from euro denominated thresholds to pound sterling across r

The UK government has confirmed its intention to abolish the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and consolidate its functions within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), marking a significant structural shift in the oversight of payment systems. The consultation outcome, published on 21 April 2026, signals broad industry support for a more unified regulatory framework, but also highlights execution risks that will determine whether the reform delivers meaningful efficiency gai

The FCA has launched a consultation on guidance for firms that may fall within the UK’s future cryptoasset regulatory regime, marking another significant step towards full crypto regulation from October 2027. The consultation follows confirmation by Parliament of the cryptoasset activities that will be brought within scope. The FCA is now seeking views on how it interprets regulated activities including issuing qualifying stablecoins, operating trading platforms, dealing and

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has published its Strategy for 2026 to 2029, signalling a decisive shift towards intelligence led enforcement, faster licensing and deeper international coordination. The strategy reflects a more complex geopolitical and financial crime landscape, where sanctions are increasingly central to national security and economic resilience. At its core is the Promote, Enable, Respond and Change (PERC) framework, designed to resh

The European Banking Authority has issued a new Decision designed to simplify how national authorities report SEPA data to EU institutions, marking a practical but important step in the implementation of the bloc’s instant payments regime. Published on 10 April 2026, the measure creates a single reporting channel from National Competent Authorities, or NCAs, to the EBA, which will then transmit the information to the European Commission. The move is intended to reduce duplica

The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) has announced a significant expansion of its licensing remit, marking a structural shift in the UK’s export sanctions framework. From 27 April 2026, OTSI will assume responsibility for licensing sanctioned goods and associated ancillary services exported to sanctioned destinations, building on its existing role overseeing standalone services such as professional and business services. This change clarifies the division of re

The US Treasury has moved quickly to put the GENIUS Act into operation, with FinCEN and OFAC jointly proposing a rule that would bring permitted payment stablecoin issuers into a formal anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance framework. The proposal is designed to support the growth of payment stablecoins while making clear that firms operating in this market will be expected to manage illicit finance risk to the same standard as other regulated financial institutions.

FinCEN has proposed a sweeping rewrite of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism programme requirements that could materially reshape how financial institutions design, evidence and defend their compliance frameworks. Announced on 7 April 2026, the proposal is positioned as a fundamental reform of Bank Secrecy Act AML/CFT expectations, with Treasury arguing that firms should be judged less on process-heavy documentation and more on whether their contr

The US Department of Justice has moved to remove any ambiguity around where companies should report potential criminal breaches of national security laws, making clear that voluntary self-disclosures should be sent directly to the National Security Division. The update, published on 30 March 2026, links national security enforcement more tightly to the Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy introduced earlier this month and gives businesses a clearer route to seek coope

FinCEN’s proposed whistleblower rule is a meaningful regulatory development rather than a routine press announcement. Although the statutory framework has been in place since the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2020 and the 2022 improvement legislation, the new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is the step that begins to turn those powers into a functioning award and protection regime with defined procedures, eligibility rules and adjudication mechanics. The proposal was published in t