Global Regulation

On 20 August 2026, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael S. Selig delivered remarks at the inaugural meeting of the Innovation Advisory Committee, setting out a regulatory agenda he calls the Roadmap for the New Frontier of Finance, spanning crypto asset market structure, compute markets and prediction markets regulation.

On 24 July 2026, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited published Guidance Letter HKEX-GL122-26 on digital asset-related activities, formalising the Exchange’s position on digital asset treasury companies (DATs) both at the listing gate and through the continuing-obligation machinery for issuers already listed.

On 1 June 2026, the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced the appointment of Dr Patrick J. Schorno as Chief Economist. The appointment was announced by CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig. Dr Schorno will serve as economic adviser to the CFTC and will support economic analysis, regulatory cost-benefit analysis and research initiatives within the agency.

On 8 May 2026, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission issued a directive calling for an urgent cyber uplift as artificial intelligence accelerates cyber threats.

On 6 March 2026, the SFC published keynote remarks by Chairman Dr Kelvin Wong titled People, Standards and AI: Strengthening Hong Kong’s Financial Backbone, delivered at the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute Chairman’s Cocktail.

On 25 February 2026, the US CFTC’s Division of Enforcement issued an Advisory on Enforcement Authority over Event Contracts following the public release of two enforcement cases involving misuse of non public information and fraud on KalshiEX, a designated contract market.

On 4 February 2026, the US CFTC formally withdrew the notice of proposed rulemaking titled “Event Contracts” that had been published on 10 June 2024 vide CFTC Staff Letter 26-04.

On 1 January 2026, the Monetary Authority of Singapore announced an updated Board roster, formalising changes in its highest governance body following the relinquishment of board membership by Heng Swee Keat.

On 17 December 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore issued Consultation Paper P019-2025, “Consultation Paper on Updates to the Guidelines on Liquidity Risk Management Practices (Fund Management Companies)” proposing targeted updates to the Guidelines on Liquidity Risk Management Practices for Fund Management Companies and consequential amendments to the Code on Collective Investment Schemes.

On 13 November 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Singapore FinTech Association announced the winners of the 2025 Global FinTech Hackcelerator and the FinTech Excellence Awards at the Singapore FinTech Festival. Singapore’s FinTech innovation cycle focused on artificial intelligence as the core driver of financial transformation.

On 29 October 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) secured interim travel restraint orders from the Federal Court of Australia against Blockchain Global Limited (in liquidation) director Zijing (Ryan) Xu. The Federal Court of Australia order, made on 20 October 2025, prohibits Mr Xu from leaving or attempting to leave Australia until 20 December 2025. ASIC sought the orders ex-parte, citing concerns over potential evidence dissipation and non-cooperation in its ongoing investigation into the collapse of Blockchain Global’s crypto asset exchange, ACX Exchange. The order was later varied by consent, extending the restraint to 28 November 2025, pending further hearings.

On 9 October 2025, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) issued Guidance 04/2025, extending the transitional period for the exchange of collateral in certain over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives transactions by three years—from 1 January 2026 to 1 January 2029. The decision applies to transactions not cleared through a FINMA-authorised or recognised central counterparty, ensuring continued regulatory equivalence and competitive neutrality within global derivatives markets. The extension aligns Switzerland’s framework with the European Union and the United Kingdom, where comparable exemptions have already been implemented.