October brings a dense compliance calendar for financial institutions worldwide. Horizon Scanning’s Regulatory Deadlines Calendar tracks 66 deadlines this month.
According to Vixio, of these, 21 are consultation periods closing and awaiting industry responses, and 39 are actionable requirements taking effect. For compliance teams, the message is clear: the window for preparation is narrowing across payments, crypto and anti-money laundering.
In Australia, the Treasury released Compilation No. 4 of the standard governing interchange fees in designated credit card schemes on October 1, 2026, and it applies immediately to the MasterCard and VISA systems. Domestic interchange fees are now capped at 0.300% of transaction value for consumer credit cards and 0.800% for commercial cards. From April 1, 2027, international interchange fees paid by acquirers will be limited to 1.000%.
Fees must be set as a fixed amount or a single percentage rather than a range. The standard also bars direct issuer participants from receiving net compensation, so rebates and incentives cannot exceed the payments made to scheme administrators for core services.
India’s central bank has also acted. On October 2, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India issued a Master Direction on note sorting machines that merges earlier guidance into one framework. Banks must now apply strict authentication and fitness standards across ten criteria, including soiling, tears, holes, stains, graffiti and repairs. For example, any note with a hole larger than 8 square millimetres must be classed as unfit. The direction is already in force.
Sanctions pressure on Belarus is spreading into digital assets. Liechtenstein amended its Belarus measures on September 22, 2026, banning direct or indirect involvement in crypto-asset and central bank digital currency transactions, along with dealings with Belarusian crypto service providers and exchange platforms.
The Digital Belarusian Ruble is explicitly covered. Most provisions apply now, while Article 25b(1)(i) takes effect on October 20, 2026.
In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority’s Policy Statement PS26/13, published on June 30, 2026, confirms that most regulated cryptoasset firms will be subject to core Handbook obligations.
These include the Consumer Duty, COBS, SYSC, SM&CR, CASS, ESG requirements, dispute resolution and Financial Ombudsman Service access. The rules take effect on October 25, 2027, which gives crypto firms a year to reach the same standards as traditional financial services.
South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre has issued final Directive 12. It requires specified accountable institutions, including banks, financial services providers and crypto-asset service providers, to submit their risk management and compliance programmes every year. Institutions under items 1, 2, 9 and 11 must file by October 9, 2026, with some item 11 banks excluded.
Those under items 3, 14, 20, 21 and 22 must file by October 31, 2026. The FIC says the requirement will strengthen its oversight of compliance with the FIC Act.
Together, these measures point to one trend. Regulators are closing gaps around crypto and payments, and RegTech readiness has become an operational necessity.
Read the full Vixio post here.
Copyright © 2026 FinTech Global
