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CFTC v. Singh - FTX Engineering Fraud Disgorgement and Trading Ban

The CFTC announced a supplemental consent order against Nishad Singh, former FTX head of engineering, imposing $3.7 million in disgorgement, a five-year trading ban, and an eight-year registration ban. The order resolves the CFTC's enforcement action based in part on Singh's cooperation, including his guilty plea in the parallel criminal case United States v. Singh to six counts including conspiracy to commit commodities fraud.

Inner Safety Project trademark, mental health services

USPTO received trademark application TM99737274 for 'INNER SAFETY PROJECT' in Class 36 (Insurance & Financial Services). The application covers charitable fundraising for mental health and trauma recovery research, association services promoting mental health awareness, and educational services. Filed March 31, 2026 under Intent to Use basis.

Deputy Governor Kozicki media interview on The Low Down

Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Sharon Kozicki gave an interview to The Low Down, a publication that appears both online and in print. The interview will cover economic and monetary policy topics. No new regulatory requirements, policy changes, or compliance obligations were announced.

FRC closes KPMG audit investigation for Entain plc

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has closed its investigation into KPMG LLP's audit of Entain plc's consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022. Following review of all evidence, Executive Counsel decided not to bring enforcement action, and the Respondents are no longer liable under Rule 146 of the Audit Enforcement Procedure. This closure ends the investigation without any findings or penalties.

Consolidated Tape Onboarding Q&As Published

ESMA published Questions and Answers clarifying onboarding expectations for EU Consolidated Tapes ahead of go-live for bonds and equities. The guidance addresses data contributor obligations for trading venues and APAs, and operational rules for Consolidated Tape Providers fairCT (bonds) and EuroCTP (equities). ESMA expects data contributors to engage with selected CTPs before formal authorization to ensure transmission readiness.

Prairie Street Capital v. Afek - Right of First Refusal ROFR Claim Dismissed

The SDNY dismissed Prairie Street Capital's breach of contract claim in Prairie Street Capital, Inc. v. Afek et al., No. 20-cv-02834, finding that a Right of First Refusal option was not triggered when Webster sold only Richardson's interest in RFI (not 100% of the Collateral) under a UCC sale. The court applied New York's narrow construction doctrine for rights of first refusal, holding that the ROFR Option required sale of all Collateral to constitute a Qualified Loan Sale.

Russia/Ukraine Sanctions Update - Month of March 2026

Mayer Brown published a summary of U.S. and EU sanctions developments related to Russia/Ukraine for March 2026. Key U.S. actions include OFAC removing designations of individuals with ties to the Russian government, a State Department $25 million program for returning forcibly relocated Ukrainian children, and OFAC amending general licenses authorizing certain Russian oil transactions to India with deadlines in April 2026.

60-Day Payment Terms Cap and Late Payment Enforcement Measures

The UK Government published its response to the Late Payment Consultation confirming legislation to cap payment terms at 60 days and strengthen late payment enforcement. The Small Business Commissioner will receive new powers to investigate late payers, adjudicate disputes, and impose fines linked to unpaid statutory interest. Large businesses must report payment performance and statutory interest payments.

Secondary OFAC Sanctions - Non-U.S. Company Exposure Analysis

Friling Law published an analysis on secondary OFAC sanctions enforcement, examining how these measures extend U.S. economic pressure beyond American borders to reach non-U.S. companies, financial institutions, and trade networks. The article details three primary enforcement mechanisms—SDN designation, correspondent banking restrictions, and sectoral sanctions—along with relevant statutory authorities including IEEPA and CAATSA. Non-U.S. entities face potential loss of access to U.S. correspondent banking, dollar clearing systems, and global financial infrastructure.

Bank of Canada Governing Council Monetary Policy Deliberations Summary

The Bank of Canada published a summary of Governing Council deliberations leading to the March 18, 2026 monetary policy decision. Council discussed global economic developments including the impact of the Iran conflict on energy prices and inflation, the US Supreme Court's ruling on tariff legality under IEEPA, and continued moderation in US economic activity. Members assessed that trade-related risks to Canada remained unchanged since January.

2026 Household Debt Management Plan Decoupling Finance from Real Estate

The Financial Services Commission announced its 2026 household debt management plan targeting a 1.5 percent growth rate for household debt, down from 1.7 percent in 2025. The plan aims to reduce Korea's household debt-to-GDP ratio to 80 percent by 2030 through stricter volume controls, separate mortgage loan management targets, and penalties for financial institutions that fail to meet targets. MG Community Credit Cooperatives face a zero-growth target due to significant non-compliance in 2025.

Prohibition Orders and Money Laundering Enforcement Actions

The Monetary Authority of Singapore published key enforcement actions taken in Q1 2026. Actions include a 7-year Prohibition Order against fund manager Sun Weiyeh for investor fraud, joint MAS-Police enforcement against Capital Asia Investments for suspected money laundering, and 16-year and 7-year Prohibition Orders against two former relationship managers connected to the August 2023 money laundering case.

Michigan Encourages Bank Accounts Through Open Account Coalition

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) announced the first-ever Michigan Open Account Coalition (MOAC) Month throughout April 2026. The initiative promotes low- and no-cost bank accounts to help Michiganders avoid approximately $3,000 in annual fees associated with check-cashing and other alternative financial services. MOAC accounts are certified by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and follow National Account Standards including no overdraft fees and $5 or less monthly maintenance.

₹2000 Banknote Withdrawal Status Update

The Reserve Bank of India published its periodic status update on the ₹2000 banknote withdrawal. As of March 31, 2026, 98.45% of the ₹2000 notes (worth ₹3.56 lakh crore at inception) have been returned, with only ₹5,501 crore remaining in circulation. The ₹2000 banknotes continue to be legal tender, and exchange facilities remain available at 19 RBI Issue Offices and via India Post.

Citizen's Charter Application Processing Status

Reserve Bank of India published monthly Citizen's Charter performance data for March 2026 showing 22,243 applications received and 21,459 processed. Of processed applications, 99.9% were handled within timeline. Report covers Currency Management, Foreign Exchange Management, and Banker to Banks and Governments functions.

Monetary Penalty on Exclusive Capital Limited for Compliance Failures

The Reserve Bank of India imposed a monetary penalty of ₹10.30 lakh (approximately $12,300 USD) on Exclusive Capital Limited for non-compliance with RBI directions on leverage ratio limits, supervisory return filings, and balance sheet submission requirements. The penalty was imposed under Section 58G(1)(b) read with Section 58B(5)(aa) of the RBI Act, 1934, following an offsite analysis and show cause proceedings.

Moratorium Extended for Innovative Co-operative Urban Bank Limited, Delhi

The Reserve Bank of India has extended the regulatory restrictions (moratorium) on Innovative Co-operative Urban Bank Limited, Delhi for an additional three months through July 4, 2026. This is the third extension of the Directive originally issued in July 2025. The extension maintains all existing restrictions and conditions previously imposed on the bank.

Underwriting auction for Government Securities (₹29,000 crore)

The Reserve Bank of India announced an underwriting auction for Government Securities worth ₹29,000 crore on April 2, 2026. The auction covers two securities: 6.68% GS 2040 (₹17,000 crore) and 7.43% GS 2076 (₹12,000 crore). Primary Dealers must submit bids through the e-Kuber system between 9:00 AM and 9:30 AM on the auction date.

RBI Money Market Operations Data

The Reserve Bank of India published money market operations data for March 30, 2026, reporting system liquidity at ₹5.89 lakh crore. This is a routine statistical release providing market participants with current liquidity conditions in the Indian banking system. The data is published via the RBI's official press release mechanism.

RBI Extends Moratorium on Bhavani Sahakari Bank, Mumbai

The Reserve Bank of India extended a regulatory directive imposing operational restrictions on The Bhavani Sahakari Bank Ltd., Mumbai for an additional three months until July 4, 2026. The extension follows prior restrictions imposed in July 2025 and a previous extension in December 2025. All existing directive terms remain unchanged.

Copper & Glass Federal Credit Union Liquidated; OMEGA Federal Credit Union Assumes Accounts

The NCUA liquidated Copper & Glass Federal Credit Union in Glassport, Pennsylvania after determining it was insolvent with no prospect for viable operations. OMEGA Federal Credit Union of Wexford, Pennsylvania assumed all assets, loans, and member shares. The 1,225 members of the closed credit union transitioned to OMEGA with no interruption in services.

NCUA Releases 2025 Annual Report

The National Credit Union Administration released its 2025 Annual Report documenting agency activities and accomplishments. The Share Insurance Fund and credit union system remained well-capitalized with sufficient liquidity, and the agency received unmodified 'clean' opinions on its audited financial statements. The report also outlines continued priorities including agency reorganization and regulatory framework improvements.

Cboe EDGA Exchange Clock Service Rule Change

The SEC published notice on March 26, 2026 of Cboe EDGA Exchange's proposed rule change to amend Rule 13.8 to establish a new optional Clock Service. The service would allow Members and non-Members to synchronize their time recording systems to the Exchange's primary clock for precise latency measurements. The proposal responds to participant demand for enhanced time synchronization options and is similar to services offered by other exchanges like MIAX Emerald.

NYSE American Listing Standards - Unrestricted Publicly-Held Shares Requirements

The SEC published notice and approved NYSE American's proposed rule change to amend Sections 101 and 102 of the NYSE American Company Guide. The Exchange will now calculate market value of publicly-held shares using only unrestricted publicly-held shares, excluding securities subject to resale restrictions such as private placements, employee stock plans, and lockup agreements. The Exchange also added new definitions for Restricted Securities, Publicly-Held Shares, Unrestricted Securities, and Unrestricted Publicly-Held Shares.

Rule 15c3-1 PRA Collection Extension

The SEC published a notice under the Paperwork Reduction Act seeking public comments on extending the existing information collection for Rule 15c3-1, which requires broker-dealers to maintain sufficient liquid assets to meet current liabilities and protect customer claims. Comments are due by June 1, 2026. The SEC estimates an aggregate annual burden of 67,773 hours and $133,867 in costs for broker-dealer respondents.

UTP Plan Amendment - Nasdaq Name Change and Texas Stock Exchange Addition

The SEC published notice of the Fifty-Sixth Amendment to the UTP (Unlisted Trading Privileges) Plan, filed March 12, 2026. The amendment reflects the name change of Nasdaq BX, Inc. to Nasdaq Texas, Inc. and adds Texas Stock Exchange LLC as a new Participant. As a ministerial amendment, it becomes effective upon filing.

SEC Increases Qualified Client Thresholds for Performance-Based Compensation

The SEC issued Release No. IA-6955 on March 27, 2026, increasing the qualified client thresholds under Rule 205-3 of the Investment Advisers Act. The AUM Test threshold rises from $1.1 million to $1.4 million, and the Net Worth Test threshold rises from $2.2 million to $2.7 million. The new thresholds, based on PCE Index inflation adjustments, are expected to become effective approximately 60 days after issuance (mid-2026).

Historic AML Penalty on Broker-Dealer for BSA Violations

FinCEN assessed a historic $80 million civil money penalty against Canaccord Genuity LLC for willful violations of the Bank Secrecy Act—the largest-ever penalty imposed by FinCEN against a broker-dealer. The enforcement action addresses failures spanning March 2018 through June 2024 related to AML program deficiencies, suspicious activity reporting, and customer/correspondent due diligence. FinCEN agreed to suspend $5 million of the penalty while crediting $20 million payments to the SEC and $20 million to FINRA, resulting in a net $35 million payable to Treasury.

UK FCA Wholesale Markets Regulatory Priorities

The UK FCA published regulatory priorities reports for wholesale markets and wholesale buy side sectors, replacing previous portfolio letters. The wholesale markets priorities focus on operational resilience, market competition and innovation, new technology adoption, financial crime prevention, and conflicts management. The wholesale buy side priorities emphasize growth and innovation, consumer duty implementation, private market investing standards, and market integrity.

DOL Proposes Rule on ERISA Fiduciary Duties for 401(k) Investments

The Department of Labor released a proposed rule titled 'Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives' to clarify how ERISA fiduciaries satisfy their duty of prudence when selecting and monitoring 401(k) and 403(b) investment options. The proposed rule establishes a six-factor safe harbor (performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, benchmarking, and complexity) for documented fiduciary decision-making.

EU State Aid Rules for Banks in Difficulty - Call for Evidence on Revision

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence on revising EU state aid rules for banks in difficulty. The initiative proposes to consolidate six existing crisis-era communications into a single, clearer framework aligned with the EU Crisis Management and Deposit Insurance (CMDI) framework. Feedback deadline is 14 April 2026, with final adoption planned for Q2 2027.

UK FCA Bans Turkish Executive for Compliance Failures and Forgery

The UK FCA banned Kasim Garipoglu, a Turkish national and former CEO/beneficial owner of a UK-regulated firm, from working in UK financial services. The FCA found he lacked honesty and integrity, fostered a culture of non-compliance, instructed staff to circumvent AML controls, and created forged documents. The action underscores FCA emphasis on individual accountability and tone-from-top compliance culture.

OCC Proposes GENIUS Act Stablecoin Regulatory Framework

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published a proposed regulation to implement the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act), establishing a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoin issuers in the United States. The proposal outlines licensing, reserve requirements, and operational standards for stablecoin issuers operating nationally.

OSC Fraud Allegations Against SponsorsOne Brands and Bartholomews

The Ontario Securities Commission announced fraud allegations against SponsorsOne Brands Inc. and Gary and Myles Bartholomew for misusing the consultant exemption to illegally distribute approximately 1.2 billion shares and commit securities fraud, diverting approximately CAD $24 million. The OSC alleges the entities acted as de facto underwriters, improperly distributing shares to the public despite claiming the consultant exemption. A case management hearing is scheduled before the Capital Markets Tribunal on May 7, 2026.

APRA Grants General Insurance Licence to Europ Assistance Australia

APRA granted Europ Assistance Australia Pty Ltd a licence to operate as a general insurer under the Insurance Act 1973. The licence authorises the company to conduct general insurance business in Australia. APRA maintains a public register of all authorised general insurers.

Consumer Warning: Unauthorized Crypto Scheme calculusinv.com CVUZ Token

BaFin issued a consumer warning on 2026-04-01 regarding Calculus Investments Ltd, which claims to operate from New York and Frankfurt but provides unauthorized financial, investment, and cryptoasset services through calculusinv.com and the GVEXPRO app. The regulator suspects the presented founder, Prof. Tobias Fischer, does not exist, and consumers purchasing CVUZ tokens via this scheme are likely to lose their invested funds.

Warning: blockshape.eu Offers Unauthorized Financial Services

BaFin issued a consumer warning that blockshape.eu, claiming to be based in Berlin, is offering banking business and financial services without the required authorization. The unauthorized activities include trading in financial instruments. BaFin advises consumers and investors to verify authorization status before engaging with any financial services provider.

BaFin warns against unauthorized crypto offerings by Calculus Investments Ltd

BaFin issued a consumer protection warning against Calculus Investments Ltd for offering cryptocurrency and financial services without required authorization. The entity operates through the website calculusinv.com and social media channels, promoting the CVUZ-TOKEN via the GVEXPRO trading app. Deposited funds are considered highly likely to be lost, and BaFin identifies the purported founder Prof. Tobias Fischer as likely fictitious.

Commercial Real Estate Trademark Renewal - Hanley Investment Group

The USPTO renewed trademark registration TM99274200 for Hanley Investment Group, covering commercial real estate brokerage services. The renewal was filed on July 9, 2025, with the registration valid through March 31, 2026. This administrative action maintains the entity's trademark rights in Class 36 (Insurance and Financial services).

Lumapath Benefits Administrator Trademark Application

USPTO received trademark application TM99287328 for "LUMAPATH BENEFITS ADMINISTRATOR" in Class 36 (Insurance & Financial Services). The application covers dental health insurance administration, health insurance administration, and insurance claims processing services. Filed as Intent to Use on July 16, 2025, with Statement of Use priority deadline of March 31, 2026.

Digital Euro Autonomy and European Payments Resilience Speech

ECB Executive Board Member Piero Cipollone delivered a speech in Riga outlining how a digital euro can strengthen Europe's payment autonomy. The speech identifies three mechanisms by which dependence on non-European payment infrastructure creates vulnerability: disconnection risk, extraterritorial legal reach, and dominant provider market power. Cipollone argues that sovereign European payment infrastructure is essential for economic resilience and strategic autonomy.

INSURTRAK trademark filed for SaaS insurance services

The USPTO received trademark application TM99241110 for INSURTRAK covering SaaS and PaaS services for insurance tracking, verification, claims management, and compliance monitoring targeted at financial institutions, lenders, and borrowers. The application includes insurance services in the collateral protection insurance industry and is filed as an Intent to Use application with a priority date of March 31, 2026.

Striker Venture Partners Trademark Application for Venture Capital Services

The USPTO received a trademark application (TM99244875) for 'STRIKER VENTURE PARTNERS' filed by an undisclosed applicant on June 20, 2025. The application covers venture capital financing and funding services to emerging and startup companies under Class 036 (Insurance and Financial Affairs). The applicant has declared Intent to Use, with a projected use date of March 31, 2026.

ESMA MiCA Knowledge Competence Guidelines Application

The CSSF issued Circular 26/909 directing Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) to comply with ESMA Guidelines on knowledge and competence criteria under MiCA. The circular applies ESMA's competency requirements (ESMA35-24871704-2922) to Luxembourg-licensed CASPs. Regulated entities must ensure staff involved in crypto-asset services meet the specified knowledge and competence standards.

Luxembourg UCI Net Assets February 2026

The CSSF published February 2026 statistics showing Luxembourg UCI net assets reached EUR 6,436.135 billion, a 2.25% increase from January. The rise comprised EUR 47.047 billion in net capital inflows and EUR 94.615 billion from positive market performance. A total of 3,005 UCIs with 13,292 fund units were active in the Luxembourg financial centre.

Countercyclical Buffer Rate for Q2 2026

The CSSF issued Regulation No. 26-01 setting the countercyclical buffer (CCyB) rate applicable to credit institutions and investment firms for the second quarter of 2026. The regulation was published on 31 March 2026 and references the official Luxembourg legal journal. Regulated entities should verify the applicable CCyB rate for their Q2 2026 capital calculations.

Sprint Capital Intent-to-Use Trademark Application

USPTO received Sprint Capital's Intent-to-Use trademark application TM99186812 on May 15, 2025, seeking registration for business advisory, development, marketing, public relations, financial fundraising, engineering, and product development services. The applicant has until March 31, 2026 to demonstrate actual use of the mark in commerce.

Evernorth Federal Services Healthcare Trademark Application

Evernorth Federal Services filed an Intent-to-Use trademark application (TM99197647) with the USPTO on May 22, 2025, for healthcare-related services including managed care, pharmacy benefit management, medical insurance claims adjustment, telemedicine, and behavioral health services. The application covers services for government healthcare purchasers, payors, and providers.

Supporting Small Businesses

Vice Chair Bowman delivered remarks at CBA LIVE 2026 emphasizing small businesses' vital role in the U.S. economy. She noted that in 2023, small businesses employed 59 million Americans (nearly half of private-sector jobs), generated $16 trillion in revenue, and contributed 44 percent of GDP. The speech highlighted that banks hold approximately $600 billion in small business loans under $1 million, with the smallest banks (under $10 billion in assets) holding nearly one-third of these loans.

UK PRA Modernising Liquidity Policy Framework Consultation

The UK Prudential Regulation Authority published Consultation Paper CP5/26 proposing reforms to modernise the prudential liquidity framework, addressing digital banking advances and structural changes in central bank reserve supply. The consultation focuses on Pillar 2 amendments, Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment (ILAA) rules, and supervisory expectations. Key changes include replacing the "marketable asset risk" concept with a broader "monetisation risk" assessment, removing sovereign bond exemptions from annual testing, and clarifying expectations for central bank facility access. Comments are due 17 June 2026.