January 2026 Compliance Report: What Changed, What’s Coming

As 2026 begins, financial firms are entering a year of tighter checks, clearer expectations, and closer oversight. Regulatory updates are no longer limited to compliance departments. They now affect product design, pricing data, reporting systems, and how firms are viewed by regulators and the public.

The January 2026 Compliance Report, published by Finance Magnates Intelligence, provides a clear and practical overview of the changes firms should already be reviewing. The report is available for free download and is designed for brokers, fintech companies, and crypto platforms operating in regulated markets.

What this compliance report helps you understand

Regulatory changes often have long timelines, but their impact begins much earlier. Firms that review requirements too late may face rushed system changes, product adjustments, or reporting gaps.

This compliance report focuses on:

• What is changing

• Which firms are affected

• Why the changes matter

• What can be reviewed early

The aim is to support planning, not just legal awareness.

👉 Download FREE January 2026 Compliance Report

EU benchmarks: the cliff-edge moment

One of the main topics in the January compliance report is the tightening of rules regarding non-EU benchmarks under ESMA oversight. For firms still relying on third-country FX, crypto, or commodity indices, January marks a cliff-edge moment. Any benchmark not registered with ESMA or recognized under equivalence is now off-limits for pricing, product structuring, and client contracts.

For many firms, benchmarks sit at the core of:

• pricing feeds

• trading products

• client disclosures

• contracts with data providers

Many firms discovered dependencies only after conducting full benchmark audits. The report provides guidance on identifying these risks before they surface in client-facing systems or regulatory reviews.

FCA complaints reporting: preparing for next year

The report also looks ahead to changes confirmed by the FCA that will affect complaints reporting from 2027.

Key updates include:

• reporting every six months instead of once a year

• more detailed complaint categories

• removal of group-level reporting

• increased visibility of complaints data

For FX and CFD brokers, complaints reporting is closely linked to trust and public perception. The compliance report outlines what firms can start reviewing now, including internal data flows and reporting processes.

Ongoing regulatory awareness

In addition to the main topics, the January compliance report includes:

• Spotlight On sections with focused regulatory analysis

• Regulatory Highlights summarising recent updates

• Fraud Watch tracks enforcement activity and warnings

FREE compliance insight to start 2026

The January 2026 compliance report is available to download for free and is useful for:

• Compliance and risk teams

• Senior management at brokers and fintech firms

• Crypto exchanges and CASPs

• Data, pricing, and technology providers

• Legal and regulatory advisors

As regulatory expectations continue to rise, early awareness supports better planning and fewer last-minute adjustments.

👉 Download the January 2026 Compliance Report from Finance Magnates today and start 2026 with a clear view of what regulators expect next.

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