April closed the first quarter of regulatory activity for 2026, and the cycle has clarified more than it has surprised. Three shifts stand out across both jurisdictions.
First, the move from rules to evidenced outcomes is no longer rhetorical. The FCA's review of Year 2 Consumer Duty board reports, its proposed reset of CONC 3 under CP26/15, and its commentary on inactive Appointed Representatives all push firms in the same direction: descriptive compliance is no longer sufficient.
Second, the cryptoasset perimeter is becoming concrete. CP26/13 sets out where the line will sit, and the pre-application gateway opening on 11 May 2026 gives AML-registered firms a structured route to de-risk authorisation.
Third, prudential and capital-markets reform is converging on resilience. PS26/5, CP8/26, and the Central Bank of Ireland's non-bank stability work all signal a tighter focus on counterparty, liquidity, and tail-risk concentration.
In this edition we cover 21 developments across 8 sector areas and 2 jurisdictions, each paired with a short action checklist for boards, compliance, and risk leaders.
Inside the April 2026 brief
- The deadlines that matter through July and beyond
- Action checklists for banking, credit, crypto, investments, insurance, pensions, payments, and Ireland-specific items
- A consolidated reference list for further reading
Get the full April 2026 brief by clicking here.
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