Political change, financial risk, and emerging technologies are reshaping payments regulation as firms prepare for major reforms in 2026 and beyond.
Political pressures—both domestic and international—drive more varied and sometimes interventionist approaches to regulatory policy, reflecting shifting social and economic priorities. At the same time, the persistent threat of financial crises and market instability has reinforced the need for robust frameworks designed to identify, manage, and mitigate risk across the sector.
Finally, unprecedented advances in technology, including artificial intelligence, digital assets, and complex payment systems, are challenging regulators to adapt their rules and supervisory methods to ensure they remain relevant and proportionate but effective. These three themes are distinct but also deeply interconnected, each influencing how financial regulation evolves in the year ahead.
Read our Payments Outlook to understand how these themes feature in payments regulation over the course of 2026, and beyond.
