Regulation 23 January 2026 - 30 April 2026

Barclays PLC Gets a UK Deregulation Shot, But the Tax Risk Is Hard to Ignore
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Barclays PLC Gets a UK Deregulation Shot, But the Tax Risk Is Hard to Ignore

The UK government has proposed changes to ring-fencing rules for banks with over £35 billion in retail deposits, affecting Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, and Santander UK. Barclays shares rose 1.8% Wednesday, but analysts warn a possible increase in the UK banking surcharge to 5% could cut 2027 earnings per share by 1.3% for Barclays. Sterling slipped as political uncertainty grew.
May 14, 2026
Ofgem Shake-Up: UK Energy Bosses Face Bonus Ban as Regulator Gets New Powers
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Ofgem Shake-Up: UK Energy Bosses Face Bonus Ban as Regulator Gets New Powers

Britain will give Ofgem new powers to enforce consumer law directly and ban bonuses for energy executives who break rules. The overhaul comes as the energy price cap stands at £1,641 a year for a typical dual-fuel customer. Industry groups say questions remain about Ofgem’s culture and the legislative timeline. Ministers say the changes aim to address gaps in a more complex energy market.
April 30, 2026
NAB Tests Tokenised Deposits With Stablecoins in RBA Trial as Australia’s New Digital Asset Law Takes Hold
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NAB Tests Tokenised Deposits With Stablecoins in RBA Trial as Australia’s New Digital Asset Law Takes Hold

National Australia Bank completed a test issuing and maturing a tokenised term deposit using stablecoins under Project Acacia, a digital-money initiative with the Reserve Bank of Australia. The transactions took place on a marketplace licensed by ASIC. The update comes as new digital asset laws take effect and the RBA prepares to release its final Acacia report. NAB said the project highlighted both opportunities and risks for tokenised banking.
April 24, 2026
Capital One Financial Corporation Could Get Capital Relief After Discover Deal as U.S. Basel Rewrite Nears
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Capital One Financial Corporation Could Get Capital Relief After Discover Deal as U.S. Basel Rewrite Nears

U.S. regulators plan a softer rewrite of Basel bank-capital rules, which could benefit Capital One as it absorbs Discover and awaits the Brex deal. The draft is expected in coming weeks and may lower capital requirements for large banks. Capital One completed its $35.3 billion Discover purchase in May 2025 and agreed to buy Brex for $5.15 billion. A proposed 10% cap on credit card rates remains a risk for card-heavy lenders.
March 10, 2026
EU threatens Meta with quick WhatsApp action over rival AI chatbots
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EU threatens Meta with quick WhatsApp action over rival AI chatbots

EU antitrust regulators sent formal charges to Meta over WhatsApp policies blocking third-party AI assistants and are considering interim measures to keep access open during the investigation. Meta disputes WhatsApp’s role as a key gateway and says users can access other chatbots elsewhere. The probe centers on Meta’s move to restrict WhatsApp Business API access to its own AI assistant.
February 9, 2026
EU tightens screws on Google: Brussels moves to open Gemini features and Search data to rivals
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EU tightens screws on Google: Brussels moves to open Gemini features and Search data to rivals

The European Commission opened two proceedings against Google on Tuesday to enforce the Digital Markets Act, focusing on Android interoperability for third-party AI and access to Google Search data on FRAND terms. Preliminary findings are expected in three months, with the process set to conclude in six. Google says it already complies, while EU officials stress equal access for rivals.
January 27, 2026
Ofcom probes Meta over WhatsApp Business data — why the UK is digging in now
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Ofcom probes Meta over WhatsApp Business data — why the UK is digging in now

Britain’s Ofcom has opened an investigation into Meta over possibly incomplete or inaccurate data provided about WhatsApp Business in response to statutory information requests. The regulator said the requests, issued in 2024 and 2025, are critical for its review of the business messaging market. Meta said it will cooperate fully. Ofcom has not specified what information may be missing or when the probe will conclude.
January 23, 2026