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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.

Argentina and Brazil, Latin America’s two largest economies, are preparing for full implementation of regulatory frameworks governing virtual asset service providers (VASPs) under the Argentine National Securities Commission (CNV) and the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB).

2026 is set to be a pivotal year for instant payments in Latin America, with evolving regulations set to redefine how banks and payment service providers (PSPs) operate and compete in the payments market across the region.

On January 15, 2026, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) published “Dear CEO” letters outlining its 2026 supervisory priorities.

Fintechs, payments companies and digital asset providers are set to seek direct access to US financial networks during 2026 via special-purpose bank charters or state licences that allow them to operate on traditional banking rails without becoming full-service, federally regulated banks.

Digital assets have made their way to the forefront of stakeholder and regulator conversations in the US, with fintechs and banks looking to capitalise on the next wave of digital currency innovation as the regulatory framework takes shape.

The US regulatory landscape in 2026 is fragmented, dynamic and enforcement-driven. Firms that treat compliance as a strategic asset, anticipating state rules, embedding consumer protections, and documenting controls, will reduce exposure to enforcement risk and strengthen trust with consumers and partners.