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In addition to the much-discussed objective of payments sovereignty, a domestic alternative could lead to greater operational resilience and a decrease in the complexity of remaining compliant.

Brazil’s Pix instant payments system has evolved into one of the world’s most advanced and widely used instant payments systems, transforming the financial landscape of Latin America's largest economy. Since its launch in 2020 by the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB), Pix has streamlined and digitised payments at scale, fundamentally changing how individuals and businesses move money in Brazil.

The US banking landscape is shifting as firms that once operated outside traditional banking rails increasingly move inside the regulatory guardrails. Federal regulators, led by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), are playing a central role in this transition through the reinvigoration of de novo bank chartering, particularly via the national trust bank charter. In December 2025, the OCC granted conditional approval to five national trust bank charter applications from firms focused on digital asset-related business models.

The retail giant’s launch of Pay by Bank in the UK is a significant step in the evolution of open banking from regulatory concept to mainstream retail infrastructure.

Plans for the central bank digital currency (CBDC) are still being refined, but look set to create significant data, governance and interoperability responsibilities for payments firms operating in the EU.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa’s (COMESA) Digital Retail Payments Platform (DRPP) is a landmark step for regional financial integration, enabling payment service providers and banks to expand cross-border services, reduce transaction costs and capture emerging opportunities in 2026 and beyond.

Ghana is preparing for a major shift in its regulatory approach to virtual assets, with the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 set to introduce a structured, risk-based regulatory framework for virtual asset activities.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) fintech report outlines the country’s readiness to align financial innovation with market-friendly regulations, aiming to create long-term opportunities for digital lenders.

On February 10, 2026, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its legal proceedings, which it had filed on October 21, 2025, against Panama-incorporated crypto exchange HTX (formerly Huobi Global) for illegal, continued promotion of services to UK consumers.

The European Union’s AI Act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, represents the first comprehensive, binding framework for the development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence across the European Union. Having entered into force on August 1, 2024, the regulation is subject to a phased implementation timetable. While certain provisions are already applicable, the majority of obligations most relevant to the financial services sector are scheduled to apply from 2026. As a result, financial services firms have a narrowing window to assess their AI use cases, align governance frameworks and prepare for supervisory scrutiny.