Four trends, one high-stakes future

This week, our spotlight turns to four developments that collectively illustrate just how dynamic—and high-stakes—the compliance environment has become. From headline-making enforcement actions to new regulatory requirements and tech partnerships, the message is clear: compliance leaders must stay agile to navigate today’s risks and tomorrow’s responsibilities.

Black Banx’s Compliance Challenges Show the Cost of Getting It Wrong

The recent fines levied against Black Banx, led by Michael Gastauer, by both the FCA in the UK and the SEC in the US underscore how global financial oversight has teeth. This case highlights that no matter how innovative or fast-growing a financial firm may be, failing to meet regulatory expectations can be both damaging to reputation and financially costly. For compliance personnel, it’s a reminder of the stakes: robust internal controls and transparent operations aren’t optional—they’re the backbone of sustainable growth.

Read full article (reading time about 7 minutes)

Planning for 2025: Key Compliance Deadlines and Requirements

While enforcement actions can dominate headlines, forward-looking preparation is equally vital. A recent Lexology article outlines the key compliance mandates looming in 2025. From updated reporting standards to emerging data protection rules, these deadlines will shape strategic planning for years to come. Ensuring your compliance roadmap anticipates evolving regulations is critical—particularly as global regulators show growing willingness to pursue fines and sanctions across borders.

Full article (may require registration, reading time about 5 minutes)

EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) Reshapes IT Compliance

As digital threats grow, regulators are intensifying their focus on operational resilience. The EU’s DORA legislation places IT contractors in the spotlight, demanding stringent cybersecurity measures and robust risk management. For senior compliance officers overseeing European operations—or even those partnering with EU-based providers—DORA signals a coming era of mandatory resilience testing, incident reporting, and cross-border accountability. Now is the time to adapt frameworks and processes to meet these tougher standards.

We discussed this previously here (reading time less than a minute)

Continued Clampdown on Market Abuse and Spoofing

Rounding out the week, the FCA’s ongoing tribunal battle with three bond traders for alleged spoofing underscores the regulator’s determination to crack down on market manipulation. This action serves as yet another signal that surveillance and enforcement in areas like market abuse are not letting up. For compliance officers, it’s a timely call to review policies on trading oversight and staff training. From robust data analytics to swift internal investigations, every layer of prevention counts when regulators are paying close attention.

Full article (behind Law360 paywall reading time about 8 minutes)

Four Key Takeaways for Compliance Personnel

Global Reach, Global Risk: As seen in the Black Banx case, cross-border operations means cross-border scrutiny.

Eyes on the Horizon: Upcoming deadlines like those in 2025 require strategic, not just reactive, planning.

Operational Resilience Is Non-Negotiable: DORA is just one example of regulators’ heightened focus on operational risks and cybersecurity.

Ongoing Enforcement: Whether it’s spoofing, reporting failures, or transparency lapses, enforcement actions continue to underscore regulators’ intolerance for lapses in compliance.

Together these developments paint a picture of a sector in flux—one where staying informed and proactive is essential. As regulators sharpen their tools and broaden their reach,? compliance personnel play an ever-more pivotal role, guiding their organisations through regulatory complexities and safeguarding corporate integrity.