NEWS: FATF considers major overhaul to ease regulatory burden on finance firms

Regulatory Watch News

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  Fintel Alliance uncovers coordinated mortgage fraud across major lenders

  Austrac

  August 19, 2026

  AUSTRAC’s Fintel Alliance has uncovered coordinated mortgage fraud and systemic weaknesses across Australia’s lending sector. A joint analysis of data from 10 major Australian banks identified potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in suspected fraudulent loans, mostly linked to properties in Sydney. Operation Claw identified suspected mortgage fraud involving inflated incomes, misrepresented employment and fabricated or unverifiable business activity used to support loan applications. The project identified cases where offshore or third-party funds were used to complete property settlements and make mortgage repayments, demonstrating how false income streams and complex funding arrangements can facilitate access to the Australian property market.

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  SEC Proposes New Regulation Crypto Assets

  SEC

  August 18, 2026

  Washington D.C., Aug. 18, 2026 —

  The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it proposed new rules, titled “Regulation Crypto Assets,” that would create a clear and fit-for-purpose framework for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets. This proposal follows the Commission’s March 2026 interpretation clarifying how the federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and transactions involving crypto assets. Together, these efforts introduce a comprehensive, tailored securities offering regime intended to address long-standing barriers to responsible capital formation and innovation within domestic crypto asset markets, while preserving the investor protections at the core of federal securities laws.

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  Serbia: New GRECO report evaluates progress in anti-corruption measures for the central government and law enforcement

  GRECO

  August 18, 2026

  GRECO has made public today its Fifth Round Second Compliance Report on Serbia, setting out an assessment of the progress made by Serbia in implementing GRECO's recommendations issued in its Fifth Round Evaluation Report to prevent corruption and promote integrity in respect of central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies.