Each month our financial writers round up the top regulatory announcements and compliance changes to ensure our clients stay informed. We follow regulatory news and updates from ASIC, CySEC, MFSA, FCA, FSA, FRB, SEC, MiFID II to produce compliant content marketing for our clients. Here’s our financial regulations roundup for January 2026.
Crackdown on Crypto Tax Evasion Starts in the UK
One of the top regulatory stories came from the UK, where authorities started implementing policies to make it harder for crypto investors to hide gains from international tax authorities. Major crypto exchanges will be required to collect full transaction records for all UK customers. The details will be on how much money they paid for cryptocurrencies and the profits made. Additionally, they will also collect and report information about tax residency of the users.
The new rules are art of the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework that were created by the OECD. In a note, a tax expert told the Financial Times:
This is the beginning of the end for crypto investors who thought they could invest and gain from crypto in secrecy from tax and other law enforcement agencies.
Securities and Exchange Commission Allows Stock Tokenization
In a major shift, the SEC gave a green light for a new service that will allow the tokenization of stocks, bonds, and Treasuries onto the blockchain. It gave permission to the DTCC, allowing to offer custody for these tokenized assets on a pre-approved blockchain for three years. Hester Pierce, an SEC commissioner, said:
Although this program is a pilot subject to various operational limitations, it marks a significant incremental step in moving markets onchain.
Companies have been working on moving American stocks online for a while now. For example, Robinhood already offers over 500 tokenized stocks and ETFs to its American clients. Ondo Finance also offers these services to clients from around the world. In a recent statement, Coinbase said that it will expand to the tokenized stocks industry soon. Its goal is to broaden its service offerings and reach more clients over time.
Nasdaq May Offer 23-Hour Stocks Trading
Meanwhile, Nasdaq, the second-biggest exchange in the United States, filed documents with the SEC, allowing it to start offering stock trading for 23 hours during the work week. The company said that the new change will allow traders and investors trade on their terms, in their time zones, and without compromising on market integrity. It expects to be ready to offer these solutions in the third quarter of this year if the SEC okays it.
Nasdaq joins the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in considering more hours to investors. The NYSE plans to offer these services for 24 hours. Companies like Interactive Brokers and Robinhood have been offering lengthy hours to customers for years.
OCC Gives Conditional Banking Charter to Crypto Companies
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) made headlines in December when it offered a conditional approval for banking charters by some of the top companies in the crypto industry. The companies are BitGo, Fidelity, Ripple Labs, Paxos, and First National.
This approval, which was rebuked by an organization representing top banks, will allow them to offer limited banking services. For example, these companies will start offering custody solutions to other firms. In a statement, the OCC said:
New entrants into the federal banking sector are good for consumers, the banking industry and the economy. The OCC will continue to provide a path for both traditional and innovative approaches to financial services to ensure the federal banking system keeps pace with the evolution of finance and supports a modern economy.
Senate Confirms Michael Selig as the CFTC Chair
In another major regulatory news, the US Senate confirmed Michael Selig as the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The confirmation came in the same month that the Senate announced a markup for the CLARITY Act that will divide roles with the SEC on cryptocurrencies.
Selig is a well-known figure in the crypto industry as he has served as a lawyer for several crypto companies in the past.
He joins other crypto-friendly regulators in the current administration, including SEC’s Paul Atkins and Jonathan Gould, the head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
ASIC Receives Commitment From the Main Stock Exchange
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has been working on improving the stock trading environment after a series of shortcomings. In a statement in December, the agency said that it had obtained commitments from ASX Group on the reforms needed. They include strengthening the independence and governance of the Clearing and Settlement facility boards.
ASX also committed to stronger leadership and a strategic reset of the Accelerate program. It also agreed to pay $150 million in fines. Joe Lango, the head of ASIC said:
ASX needs to embrace a new era of accountability, investment, and stewardship to increase confidence, and meet the expectations of the market and the Australian public.
FCA Unveils Plans to Regulate Crypto
In the UK, the FCA announced plans to regulate cryptocurrencies. The rules, will include measures on listing digital assets, regulations on insider trading, and capital requirements for the sector. These rules are designed to balance the UK’s desire to be a global leader in the industry while protecting consumers.
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