The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs identified 64 real estate businesses subject to AML/CFT supervision through its Know Your Population project. Although 86% of assessed entities had appointed a compliance officer, risk assessments and the programs based on them were less consistently in place. The department will use the findings to improve sector scans, outreach and supervisory data.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is meeting its target to assess 80% of acquisitions within 20 business days under the new merger regime, with four matters resolved in Phase 1 through targeted divestments. The regime is providing greater visibility into serial acquisitions and consolidation across critical services. The regulator is also sharpening enforcement against resale price maintenance and has brought its first case alleging a concerted practice.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and Reserve Bank of New Zealand found that both banking systems would remain resilient under a severe cross-border stress scenario, with banks continuing to extend credit despite substantial losses and capital and liquidity pressure. The first joint exercise since 2017 examined economic, funding, market and cyber shocks and will inform future supervision, crisis management and stress testing.

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission is consulting on licensing guidance and standards for digital asset and tokenised custody platforms ahead of the new framework’s commencement on April 8, 2027. The proposals cover licensing, customer disclosures, platform rules, asset holding, trading and settlement, and net tangible asset requirements, with streamlined processes proposed for certain existing licensees and earlier applicants.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s Office of Financial Conduct will begin accepting complaints on Oct. 15, 2026, from customers of licensed financial institutions across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. The free service will cover issues such as unfair treatment, inadequate information, fees, banking products and access to financial services, with no legal representation required.

The Council of Europe is marking 25 years of the Budapest Convention with a global conference examining AI, electronic evidence and other emerging cybercrime challenges. A new study confirms that AI systems fall within the convention’s scope and recommends stronger industry cooperation and practical investigative resources. Kazakhstan’s ratification brings the convention to 84 parties.

The European Banking Authority has classified USDC as the EU’s first significant e-money token under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation. From Nov. 12, 2026, the EBA and France’s Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority will divide supervisory responsibility for the token. The EBA has also agreed to exchange information with the New York State Department of Financial Services on USDC’s cross-border activities.

The Central Bank of West African States has opened applications for the first cohort of its Financial Innovation Laboratory. Licensed institutions and financial technology companies may apply by Nov. 30, 2026, but crypto asset projects are excluded.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s trading markets director expects recommendations on access fee caps and pricing increments to accompany any change to the trade-through rule. The director also reviewed the conditional framework for tokenized stock venues and expects at least four exchanges to begin trading perpetual futures on securities in the fourth quarter. SEC staff is separately examining conflicts involving exchange affiliations with broker-dealers.

Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould highlighted findings that large banks used reputation risk policies to restrict services to coal and firearms businesses based on public or political pressures rather than objective financial risk. He said banks may choose their customers but should apply objective, risk based criteria, and noted that the OCC has removed reputation risk from its supervisory framework.

The Brazil Securities Commission suspended an enforcement ruling after its rapporteur voted to fine 12 companies and individuals for market fraud and failures involving intermediaries, fiduciary oversight and credit ratings. The proposed penalties include fines of up to BRL 2.72 million per respondent, but no final decision has been reached.

The National Credit Union Administration has opened the 12th round of its Deregulation Project with three proposals covering fidelity bonds, incidental powers and the Central Liquidity Facility. The changes would simplify bond requirements, clarify direct applications for new incidental powers, and modernize liquidity facility membership, reporting and capital stock rules while retaining core safeguards.