2026 Financial Crime Compliance Trends

Here are five key financial crime compliance trends set to shape the year ahead.

1. Shifting geopolitics create new vulnerabilities and financial crime risks: Alternative payment systems are on the rise and sanctioned vessel profiles more than doubled between 2023 and 2025. Greater fragmentation of the payments landscape and increased scrutiny on export controls means financial institutions must go beyond simply “following the money”.
2. Cyberthreats continue to reshape financial crime risk: Cyber risk now sits firmly within the financial crime compliance agenda, with regulators increasingly applying cyber‑related sanctions and coordinating cross‑border enforcement. Institutions must take a holistic approach that integrates cyber intelligence, identity verification and AML controls.
3. Effectiveness takes center stage: Regulatory complexity continues to increase, pushing supervision toward outcome‑based effectiveness. Organizations must demonstrate measurable risk reduction, simplify controls and deploy resources more strategically while sustaining strong financial crime defenses.
4. Risk‑relevant data sharing becomes essential: Financial crime is becoming increasingly networked, and well-intended data regulations and privacy laws can hinder collaboration between good actors. New legal frameworks are enabling data sharing, resulting in secure partnerships to improve detection of cross‑border crime.
5. AI powers both financial crime and compliance responses: Criminals are exploiting AI for scams and fraud, while institutions deploy AI to enhance detection. In 2026, firms must balance innovation with strong data governance, transparency and regulatory accountability.

Prepare for what’s next in financial crime compliance

As financial crime risks evolve, so must the tools and intelligence used to combat them.

Download the infographic to get more insight on each trend that may impact your business this year and in the future.

Discover how LexisNexis® Risk Solutions combines global risk intelligence, advanced analytics and innovative technology to help organizations adapt to change, strengthen compliance and stay ahead of emerging threats. Learn more about our financial crime compliance solutions.