The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published a Money Laundering (ML) National Risk Assessment (NRA) toolkit to help jurisdictions identify and address ML risks. The toolkit is accompanied by four thematic quick guides and a set of annexes (Annexes A–C), which provide practical tools and cross-country insights. The materials cover corruption, virtual assets, legal persons and the informal economy, and include methodologies developed by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Council of Europe (CoE). The toolkit is designed to support a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering (AML) in line with Recommendation 1 of the FATF Standards. The toolkit and guides are designed to be flexible and may be used for full NRAs, sectoral or thematic assessments, or to support broader AML strategy development.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published a report on current and potential AI-related risks and trends, with a focus on anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and countering the financing of proliferation (AML/CFT/CPF).

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published a report examining how social media, instant messaging applications and streaming platforms (SMSPs) are exploited for terrorist financing. The report finds that fewer than 30% of jurisdictions address SMSP-related terrorist financing risks in national risk assessments. Key typologies include fraudulent crowdfunding campaigns, exploitation of creator-economy features and virtual asset fundraising via rotating wallets and QR codes. While SMSPs fall outside current anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations under FATF Standards, certain functionalities—including virtual asset wallets, peer-to-peer transfers and creator monetisation tools—may bring SMSPs or associated third-party providers within the scope of existing regulated sectors as financial institutions or virtual asset service providers. The report recommends strengthened public-private cooperation, clearer regulatory scope and enhanced inter-agency coordination.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published a report addressing the significant and complex issue of online child sexual exploitation (OCSE). The report highlights the severe and long-lasting impact of these crimes on victims and their families. It focuses on two main types of OCSE: live-streamed sexual abuse of children (LSAC) and financial sexual extortion of children (FSEC). The report emphasises the importance of understanding the financial flows behind these crimes to detect, disrupt, and investigate them effectively. It also stresses the importance of employing investigatory techniques that cater to the needs of at-risk children. Recommendations have been provided to stakeholders, including members of the FATF Global Network, to enhance their ability to combat these crimes using financial intelligence, with an emphasis on victim-centric investigative strategies that minimise harm and reduce reliance on victim testimony.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published a targeted report on decentralised finance (DeFi). The report finds that 132 of 143 surveyed jurisdictions have not implemented FATF standards for qualifying DeFi arrangements, with only 2 having licensed or registered such arrangements in practice. DeFi's total value locked reached USD 86.64 billion in 2026, an increase of approximately 85% since 2023, heightening its exposure to money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks. The report finds that DeFi's unique features are increasingly exploited by fraudsters, ransomware operators, professional money laundering networks and proliferation financing actors, including Democratic People's Republic of Korea-linked groups whose two major attacks in April 2026 accounted for approximately 76% of annual virtual asset hacking losses. The report clarifies that FATF's Recommendation 15 applies where identifiable persons exercise control or sufficient influence over a DeFi arrangement, and sets out on-chain and off-chain indicators to assist jurisdictions in making that determination. It distinguishes three categories of arrangements: (1) centralised; (2) centralised where controllers cannot be readily identified and (3) truly decentralised. Financial institutions and virtual asset service providers interacting with DeFi arrangements are required to comply with Recommendations 10 and 13, and must refrain from interacting where those obligations cannot be met.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has concluded its June 2026 plenary, resulting in changes to its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) monitoring lists. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq have been added to the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring the ‘grey list’, while Algeria and Namibia have been removed following successful completion of their action plans and on-site verification. Bulgaria, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Monaco have substantially completed their action plans and are awaiting on-site assessments before potential removal from the grey list. The FATF’s list of high-risk jurisdictions subject to a call for action the ‘black list’ remains unchanged, with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran continuing to be subject to countermeasures and Myanmar remaining subject to enhanced due diligence requirements. The FATF also noted ongoing concerns regarding fraud and cyber scam-related money laundering risks in Myanmar and indicated that countermeasures may be considered if further progress is not made by October 2026.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has announced revisions to Recommendation 16 (R.16) of its Standards—commonly known as the ‘Travel Rule’—to strengthen the transparency and security of cross-border payments. Adopted at the June 2025 Plenary, the changes aim to improve the detection of financial crime, align with the G20 roadmap for more efficient payments, and reflect the growing role of fintechs and digital platforms in the global payments ecosystem. The revised Standards will take effect by the end of 2030, with FATF set to issue guidance and continue engagement with the private sector to support implementation.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) February 2025 plenary has resulted in significant changes to its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) monitoring lists. The ‘black list’ continues to include Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Iran and Myanmar, with enhanced due diligence and countermeasures required. The ‘grey list’ of jurisdictions under increased monitoring is now comprised of 24 countries, with notable changes including the removal of the Philippines following substantial progress in implementing its action plan. Nepal and Lao Peoples' Democratic Republic (PDR) have been newly added to the grey list, whilst Croatia and Mali have reached initial completion of their action plans pending on-site verification. Tanzania has also completed its technical requirements and awaits assessment.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revised its criteria for listing countries in aims at easing pressures on the least developed nations and focus on those that present higher risks to the global financial system. The FATF states its changes will ensure the listing process better targets the countries that pose the greatest risk to the international financial system, while also providing better support to low capacity nations.

Following the February 2023 revisions to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s Recommendation 25 on beneficial ownership and transparency of legal arrangements, FATF has updated its risk-based guidance for this Recommendation. It complements the existing guidance on Recommendation 24 on legal persons and aims to help stakeholders from the public and private sectors to implement the new requirements more effectively.

conduct-authority'>Financial Conduct Authority which succeeded the FSA and is responsible for ensuring the relevant markets function well, for the conduct supervision of firms not supervised by the Prudential Regulation authority, protecting consumers and promoting competition

The chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Nikhil Rathi, has given a speech on innovation, the Smarter Regulatory Framework and the FCA’s efforts to reduce burdens and barriers to raising finance. Addressing the Association of Corporate Treasurers, Rathi said regulators ‘want and need’ engagement from corporate treasurers, who are ‘a bellwether for what is really going on in the economy and the direct impact of regulation’.