Compliance & Ethics

SEC & CFTC Extend Compliance Date for Form PF Amendments

If you’ve been navigating the ever-evolving world of financial regulations, you know that deadlines can be a bit of a pressure cooker. Well, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have decided to offer a bit of a breather. In a welcome move, they’ve extended the compliance date for the amended Form PF, originally due on March 12, 2025, by three months to June 12, 2025.

Spain’s Market Watchdog Takes Aim at X Over Compliance Failures

Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) has had enough. The regulator recently announced it is launching sanctioning proceedings against Twitter International Unlimited Company—better known today as the owner of the platform X—for allegedly failing to police financial scam ads featuring unlicensed and previously flagged investment schemes.

FCA Breaks New Ground with First-Ever Fine for MiFIR Transaction Reporting Failures

Regulators have fired their first warning shot under MiFIR, and it’s landed squarely on Infinox Capital Limited. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined the firm £99,200 for failing to report over 46,000 transactions, a lapse that could have left market abuse undetected.

KuCoin Pleads Guilty to Unlicensed Money Transmission, Agrees to Nearly $300 Million in Penalties

For years, KuCoin marketed itself as the “People’s Exchange,” a go-to platform for crypto traders worldwide. But behind the sleek interface and global appeal, U.S. authorities say KuCoin was playing fast and loose with the law—allowing billions in potentially illicit funds to flow through its platform with little to no oversight. Now, that game is up.

FSMA Inspections of Currency Exchange Offices: A Critical Assessment of Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorism Financing Efforts

In an effort to tighten up Belgium’s defenses against money laundering and terrorism financing, the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) recently conducted comprehensive inspections of eight currency exchange offices. The goal was to assess how well these businesses are adhering to the country’s robust anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) regulations. And what the FSMA found wasn’t just a few minor lapses—it uncovered systemic weaknesses that pose significant compliance risks.

Pharnext Faces €800,000 Fine for Failing Transparency Tests in Drug Approval Saga

Transparency isn’t just a buzzword in the biotech world—it’s the lifeblood of investor trust. And when it’s absent, as French biotech firm Pharnext discovered, the consequences can be costly.

A New Era at the CFTC: Acting Chair Caroline Pham Ushers in Leadership Changes

Change is in the air at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). With the arrival of a new administration, Acting Chair Caroline Pham has wasted no time in setting the tone for her tenure, announcing sweeping leadership updates across the agency.