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In considering linking their central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), the BRICS economies are seeking to redesign global financial plumbing to reflect the bloc’s growing weight in the world economy.

On December 23, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion to resolve regulatory uncertainty surrounding the applicability of the definition of “credit” under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and its implementing regulation, Regulation Z, to Earned Wage Access (EWA) products.

In November 2025, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology operationalised the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules 2025 (DPDP), bringing the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 into a unified, citizen-centred framework.

Australia is poised for a significant regulatory shift in 2026 as the government moves to integrate digital asset and tokenised custody platforms into the existing financial services framework.

Artificial intelligence (AI) regulation is accelerating across Asia-Pacific, as supervisors respond to rapid uptake of machine-learning models in credit, fraud detection and customer engagement.

South Africa is at a pivotal moment in the evolution of its financial system. Despite being one of Africa’s most sophisticated banking markets and largest economies, the country remains largely cash-dependent: a South African Reserve Bank (SARB) survey from 2023 found that approximately 56 percent of payments in the country were in cash. Recognising this gap, the SARB has made payments modernisation a core pillar of its next five-year strategic direction, Strategy 2030, culminating in the launch of its Payments Ecosystem Modernisation (PEM) Programme.

Two decades of rapid innovation have left Australia’s payments regulation out of step with the technologies reshaping how consumers and businesses transact. Now, the federal government is preparing a sweeping overhaul ushering in the most significant reform of payments law in a generation. Rooted in the Strategic Plan for Australia’s Payments System unveiled two years ago, the new regime seeks to ensure that Australia’s payments regulation includes modern payments technologies and functions such as digital wallets, stored-value facilities (SVFs), buy now, pay later (BNPL) tokens and stablecoins under a single, integrated regulatory framework. The objectives are clearer rules, stronger consumer protections and increased competition, which should lower costs. Key reforms The reforms are set to be introduced in two tranches. The first expands the range of licence-eligible providers. The Treasury plans to define new financial products such as SVFs, digital wallets and stablecoins under the payments licensing framework. It also aims to introduce more licensing obligations, exemptions and inclusions (termed Tranche 1B). The second aims to enhance the broader payments architecture. This

With 2026 set to be a critical transition year for payments, it is vital to ensure operational resilience is about more than completing a compliance checklist.

The new Anti-Money Laundering Authority’s (AMLA) data collection exercise is more than a dry run: it is a critical step in calibrating a harmonised, analytical methodology that will shape the regulatory environment for all EU financial institutions.

Chile is emerging as a regional leader in Latin American fintech, moving beyond traditional open banking to incorporate data sharing from credit institutions, asset managers and insurance companies.