As the payments industry continues to evolve at speed, legal and regulatory frameworks are becoming a central force shaping its future. In 2026, compliance will no longer be just a requirement — it will define how companies scale, build trust, and compete.
We spoke with Tamara Makhatadze, Head of Legal & Compliance at FinteqHub, to explore key legal trends that will impact payments in the coming year.
Stricter rules and higher expectations
Regulation is catching up with real-time finance
With the continued rise of real-time payments, regulators are expected to further tighten requirements across several critical areas: operational resilience, fraud prevention, and consumer protection.
At the same time, the industry will see ongoing progress in digital asset regulation. This will be accompanied by a broader push for stronger supervision, improved transparency, enhanced data integrity, and deeper cross-border cooperation.
PSD3 will raise the bar
A new standard for security, transparency, and consistency
The introduction of PSD3 will mark a significant shift in the European payments landscape. It will set higher standards for security, data transparency, and regulatory consistency across jurisdictions.
For fintech companies, this means one thing: adaptability will be key. Those that embed compliance-by-design into their products and operations and can quickly adjust to evolving regulatory requirements will be best positioned to succeed.
Legal as a strategic function
From support role to business enabler
In 2026, Legal teams will move beyond their traditional role and become strategic enablers of business growth.
As payment ecosystems become more complex — involving banks, PSPs, fintechs, and digital asset providers — Legal will play a critical role in managing these partnerships and ensuring compliance across the entire value chain.
Processes like KYC, AML, and sanctions screening will need to evolve as well. They will become more automated, intelligent, and dynamic — enabling companies to maintain trust while scaling efficiently.
Looking ahead
Compliance as a competitive advantage
The role of compliance in payments is changing. In 2026, it won’t be just about meeting regulatory requirements — it will be about leveraging compliance as a competitive advantage.
Companies that invest in scalable, adaptive, and transparent legal frameworks will be the ones that earn trust and lead in an increasingly complex ecosystem
