Insights

On July 9, 2025, the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) unveiled a significant package of payment reforms designed to remove friction in the movement of money, accelerate both domestic and cross-border transactions and further align the country’s payment landscape with the integration of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). The reforms bring three headline changes for banks: stricter caps on SEPA credit transfer fees; extended payment system operating hours (including weekend processing); and a streamlined, lower tariff structure for CBCG settlement services. Together, these measures signal a clear shift towards cost reduction, operational efficiency and increased service availability. These themes will reshape pricing strategies, settlement processes and competitive positioning in Montenegro’s payments market.

Tighter deadlines, stricter authorisation and higher capital thresholds are set to reshape how institutions and IT providers connect to Pix, with smaller players facing the greatest pressure.

Plans to scrap the £100 contactless limit could boost revenue and innovation, but would also require investment in security and compliance.

The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, which was signed into law in July 2025, is federal legislation that aims to create a comprehensive regulatory regime for stablecoins.

HM Treasury’s consultation sets out a streamlined model that promises efficiency, but firms will need to assess whether it truly reduces regulatory friction while supporting innovation.

The European Commission has clarified how stablecoin-like asset-referenced token (ART) issuers can operate cross-border under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA), confirming that a dedicated passporting framework applies.

Ireland’s biggest retail banks will launch a new joint payment solution in 2026, reviving a scrapped venture and riding the momentum of EU instant payments rules and the country’s modernisation drive.

The European Commission has confirmed it will present a dedicated EU Action Plan on Online Fraud to boost collective efforts to combat scams that increasingly target vulnerable groups, including older people.

Central bank efforts to balance inclusion, resilience and privacy come amid ongoing debates over sovereignty, system reliability and public trust, as the October deadline for a decision on the next steps approaches.

The government is aiming to improve the effectiveness of the country’s anti-money laundering (AML) regulations by closing loopholes, addressing proportionality concerns and tackling the threat of illicit activity in the crypto-asset sector.