A global operation, supported by Eurojust, has led to the takedown of servers of infostealers, a type of malware used to steal personal data and conduct cybercrimes worldwide. The infostealers, RedLine and META, taken down on 28 October targeted millions of victims worldwide, making it one of the largest malware platforms globally. An international coalition of authorities from the Netherlands, the United States, Belgium, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Australia shut down three servers in the Netherlands, seized two domains, unsealed charges in the United States and took two people into custody in Belgium.

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Research from Quantios’ latest Future Focus Report has revealed the number one business challenge for organisations going into 2025: increasing efficiencies while reducing costs. And, a further 88% of respondents have reported that they believe the way to achieve this is through digitalisation. However, in spite of this awareness, not all firms are acting with a sense of urgency. In fact, 70% of respondents admit that their firms continue to rely on multiple legacy systems and manual processes and only 42% of respondents stated that they plan to explore new technology options over the next five years – a timeline that may seriously hinder competitiveness. Continue reading…

At the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference on 11-22 November in Azerbaijan, the European Union will work with international partners to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement of limiting global average temperature rise to as close as possible to 1.5C. Climate change continues to be an issue which knows no borders, and increasingly harms lives and livelihoods across Europe and around the world. At COP29, the Parties to the Paris Agreement must ensure that global financial flows are increasingly aligned with the Paris Agreement, unlocking investments, through the adoption of a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance. The NCQG will be the main priority of this year’s negotiations. Continue reading…

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has recently published a Report on eligibility and use of credit insurance, in response to the European Commission’ request under the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR3). In this Report, the EBA calls for an alignment of EU rules with the present Basel framework. Continue reading…

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) has recently published its Strategic Plan 2025-2029. The plan was developed through a rigorous process of engagement with IAIS members and stakeholders. “The 2025-2029 Strategic Plan builds on the achievements of the previous five-year period,” said IAIS Executive Committee Chair Shigeru Ariizumi. “Looking ahead, the IAIS will place a greater emphasis on implementation of our standards and on the themes of climate change, digital innovation and societal resilience.” Continue reading…

by Paul White

For decades, the wealth, trust and corporate services sector has been guided by the steady hand of the “old guard.” This group has long been revered for upholding tradition, maintaining stability and fostering trusted relationships. But as Bob Dylan once said, “The times they are a-changin’.” For many, the wealth, trust and corporate services sector has been managed ‘as it’s always been done,’ with point solutions, manual processes and the odd lever arch file here and there. But now, as wealth shifts from baby boomers to gen X and millennials – an estimated £1 trillion throughout the 2020si – expectations have evolved. Younger generations are accustomed to digital solutions like open banking, instant payments and apps with real-time data on investments. Continue reading…

The European Innovation Council (EIC), part of the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, will support European deep tech research and high-potential start-ups with €1.4 billion next year. The EIC Work Programme 2025, which the Commission adopted on 29 October, represents an increase of nearly €200 million in comparison with 2024. In addition to a bigger budget, the 2025 work programme brings several improvements, including better access to scale-up equity funding with the EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) scale-up scheme, introduced following the STEP regulation adopted earlier this year. Other improvements based on the recommendations of the EIC Board are also included. Continue reading…

Twenty finfluencers are being interviewed under caution by the FCA, as it launches targeted action against finfluencers who may be touting financial services products illegally. The FCA also issued 38 alerts against social media accounts operated by finfluencers which may contain unlawful promotions. Increasing numbers of young people are falling victim to scams, and finfluencers can often play a part. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of 18 to 29-year olds follow social media influencers, 74% of those said they trusted their advice and 9 in 10 young followers have been encouraged to change their financial behaviour.  Continue reading…

by Paul White

The wealth, trust and corporate services sector is awash with mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Yet, it’s no secret that the M&A market declined in 2023 and has continued on a similar trajectory this year. In fact, earlier this year, a collapse in deal flow, meant only nine disclosed M&A transactions took place, representing a decline of 50% in activity. The valuation gap between what buyers wanted to spend and what sellers want to charge for their companies has and will continue to keep many would-be deals from happeningi. Continue reading…

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has on 17 October published for consultation a Format for Incident Reporting Exchange (FIRE), a common format for financial firms’ reporting of operational incidents, including cyber incidents. FIRE aims to promote convergence in reporting practices, to address operational challenges arising from reporting to multiple authorities, and to foster better communication within and across jurisdictions. FIRE builds on the FSB Recommendations to Achieve Greater Convergence in Cyber Incident Reporting, published in 2023. Continue reading…