LATEST: Brussels expected to implement new rules on branches of rapidly-expanding non-EU banks

Regulatory Watch News

• 

  Treasury Seeks Public Comment on GENIUS Act Proposed Rulemaking

  US Department of the Treasury

  August 17, 2026

  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), seeking public comment related to Treasury’s implementation of section 3 of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. “President Trump and Congress delivered the GENIUS Act, establishing a landmark framework and clear rules of the road for payment stablecoins, and Treasury is moving quickly to implement that framework,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “Treasury welcomes input from stakeholders as we work to provide the regulatory certainty businesses need to innovate and grow in America, cement the role of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency, and keep America the crypto capital of the world.”

• 

  Update to UK Sanctions List: ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Regime

  UK Government

  August 17, 2026

  Today, Monday 17 August, the UK Government has varied the designations of 6 individuals and 2 entities sanctioned under the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Regime. This reflects the recent updates to these listings made by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015). Varied Individuals:

  Name:	UN ID:	Unique ID:
  Mohammed Salahadlin Abd El Halim ZIDANA	QDi.001	AQD0312
  Adem YILMAZ	QDi.261	AQD0120
  Shafi Sultan Mohammed AL-AJMI	QDi.338	AQD0314
  Amin Muhammad Ul Haq SAAM KHAN	QDi.0002	AQD0136
  Abubakar SWALLEH	QDi.436	AQD0388
  Hamidah NABAGALA	QDi.439	AQD0391

    Varied Entities:

  Name:	UN ID:	Unique ID:
  UMMAH TAMEER E-NAU (UTN)	QDe.068	AQD0083
  ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ AND THE LEVANT – KHORASAN (ISIL-K)	QDe.161	AQD0357

   

• 

  Former SFC staff member charged following joint investigation with ICAC

  Securities and Futures Commission

  August 17, 2026

  The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) notes that the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has today charged a former SFC manager with obtaining access to a computer with a view to dishonest gain. The charges follow a joint investigation between the SFC and the ICAC. The employment of the staff member concerned was terminated immediately after her arrest, and the SFC has fully cooperated with the ICAC throughout the investigation.