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2026 Regulatory Horizon Scanning: Clarifying the Complexity

This new report brings clarity to this shifting environment and explores the forces that will define the next phase of AML and financial crime regulation.

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Regulatory change is accelerating across every major financial center, reshaping how institutions approach financial crime risk, transparency, and compliance. As new supervisory bodies emerge, timelines compress, and expectations rise, firms are being pushed to modernize at a pace that is both unprecedented and uneven across regions.

This new report brings clarity to this shifting environment. It examines how global frameworks are diverging while still aligning around a shared priority: proving effectiveness through strong data, better governance, and technology-enabled processes. Expert commentary from PwC provides additional perspective on how these pressures will influence day-to-day compliance decisions in the year ahead.

This report explores the forces that will define the next phase of AML and financial crime regulation. It highlights the structural changes underway, the direction of supervisory focus, and the operational realities financial institutions must prepare for.

In the full report, readers will learn about:

  • Region-by-region shifts that are reshaping financial crime oversight in the EU, UK, US, APAC, MENA, and Africa
  • New expectations for beneficial ownership transparency and how definitions are tightening across markets
  • Increasing convergence around data quality, analytics, and technology adoption as regulators push for measurable outcomes
  • The emergence of powerful supervisory bodies, including the EU's AMLA, and what centralized oversight means for global firms
  • How sanctions enforcement, geopolitical tension, and rapid innovation in digital assets are influencing regulatory priorities
  • PwC insights that explain where firms may encounter complexity, and how regulatory momentum is likely to evolve through 2026

The insights make one message clear: institutions that approach regulatory change strategically rather than reactively will be better positioned to manage risk, cost, and scrutiny. The report offers forward-looking guidance designed to help compliance leaders navigate uncertainty with confidence, supported by expert market analysis and commentary.

Unlock the full report to access the complete findings, timelines, and expert perspectives shaping the regulatory landscape for 2026.