Laws and regulations
Every licence rests on a law. The Atlas lists 44 of them, from EU regulations such as MiCA and PSD2 to national acts, each with a plain-English summary, the key articles, the licences it creates, and a direct link to the official full-text file checked by the Atlas.
European Union
- Directive 2011/61/EU
Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive
The AIFMD reaches managers of alternative investment funds such as hedge funds, private equity vehicles and real estate funds, plus anything else that
- Directive (EU) 2015/849
Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (as amended by the fifth, 2018/843)
The fourth AML Directive, as amended by the fifth (Directive (EU) 2018/843), underpins the national anti-money-laundering laws now in force. The fifth
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1624
Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (single rulebook)
The AMLR replaces most of the old anti-money-laundering directives with one rulebook that applies directly across the EU. It defines who counts as an
- Directive (EU) 2023/2225
Consumer Credit Directive (CCD2)
The second Consumer Credit Directive updates the EU's consumer lending rules and pulls buy-now-pay-later and other small or short credits into scope.
- Directive 2013/36/EU
Capital Requirements Directive
The CRD governs who may take deposits and grant credit as a bank in the EU. It requires authorisation as a credit institution before starting business
- Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
Capital Requirements Regulation
The CRR is directly applicable in every member state and forms the EU's prudential rulebook for banks. Banks hold capital against credit risk and mark
- Regulation (EU) 2022/2554
Digital Operational Resilience Act
DORA sets one EU-wide rulebook for information and communication technology (ICT) risk in the financial sector. Coverage is broad. It reaches banks, p
- Regulation (EU) 2020/1503
European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation
One licence covers crowdfunding platforms across the EU. The ECSPR applies where a platform brings businesses seeking funding together with investors,
- Directive 2009/110/EC
Directive 2009/110/EC on the taking up, pursuit and prudential supervision of the business of electronic money institutions
Directive 2009/110/EC (EMD2) establishes the European Union regulatory framework for electronic money issuance, prudential supervision, and market con
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1114
Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation
MiCA is the EU-wide regime for crypto-assets that are not already financial instruments, deposits or e-money. It requires issuers of asset-referenced
- Directive 2014/65/EU
Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments
Directive 2014/65/EU, MiFID II, lays down the EU framework for investment services, trading venues and market infrastructure. It reaches investment fi
- Regulation (EU) No 600/2014
Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012
Regulation (EU) No 600/2014, MiFIR, sets uniform EU rules for market transparency, trading conduct and transaction reporting. It reaches investment fi
- Directive (EU) 2015/2366
Directive (EU) 2015/2366 on payment services in the internal market
Directive (EU) 2015/2366 (PSD2) sets the EU's regulatory framework for payment services in the internal market. It covers payment institutions, credit
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1113
Transfer of Funds Regulation (travel rule)
The Transfer of Funds Regulation brings the FATF travel rule into EU law. Payment service providers send information on the payer and the payee with e
- Directive 2009/65/EC
UCITS Directive
UCITS covers retail investment funds. The fund needs authorisation, and so does the company that manages it. Eligible assets, diversification and liqu
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Australia
- Act No. 169, 2006 (Cth), registered compilation C2026C00274
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006
The AML/CTF Act 2006 (Cth) is Australia's primary anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing statute, administered by AUSTRAC. It obliges '
- Act No. 50, 2001 (Cth), registered compilation C2026C00382
Corporations Act 2001
The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) is Australia's principal companies and financial-markets statute, administered by ASIC and Treasury. Chapter 7 ("Finan
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Canada
Cayman Islands
Curaçao
Dubai (VARA)
- Law No. (4) of 2022
Law No. (4) of 2022 Regulating Virtual Assets in the Emirate of Dubai
Law No. (4) of 2022 is Dubai's core virtual assets statute. It reaches mainland Dubai and the free zones, though the Dubai International Financial Cen
- Virtual Assets and Related Activities Regulations 2023
Virtual Assets and Related Activities Regulations 2023
The Virtual Assets and Related Activities Regulations 2023 establish Dubai's comprehensive regulatory framework governing virtual assets and related a
El Salvador
Georgia
Hong Kong
Malaysia (Labuan)
Malta
Mauritius
Seychelles
Singapore
South Africa
Switzerland
- SR 955.0
Federal Act of 10 October 1997 on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Anti-Money Laundering Act, AMLA)
The Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA, SR 955.0) governs the prevention and detection of money laundering, terrorist financing, and the concealment of c
- SR 952.0
Federal Act of 8 November 1934 on Banks and Savings Banks (Banking Act, BankA)
The Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks (BankA, SR 952.0) provides the primary statutory foundation for banking regulation, deposit-taking, and pru
- SR 954.1
Federal Act of 15 June 2018 on Financial Institutions (Financial Institutions Act, FinIA)
The Federal Act on Financial Institutions (FinIA, SR 954.1) establishes a unified Swiss regulatory architecture governing non-banking financial instit
United Arab Emirates
- DIFC Law No. 1 of 2004
Regulatory Law 2004
The Regulatory Law establishes the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) as the DIFC's financial regulator, sets its objectives, board structure,
- Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025
Federal Decree-Law No. (6) of 2025 Regarding the Central Bank, Regulation of Financial Institutions and Activities, and Insurance Business
This decree-law re-establishes the Central Bank of the UAE's mandate and consolidates regulation of banks, insurance, payments and financial market in
United Kingdom
- S.I. 2011/99
The Electronic Money Regulations 2011
The Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/99) form the primary statutory framework governing electronic money issuance, prudential supervision, a
- 2000 c. 8
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000) provides the comprehensive statutory foundation for financial regulation, financial markets, a
- S.I. 2017/692
The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017
The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 form the core of the United Kingdom's anti
- S.I. 2017/752
The Payment Services Regulations 2017
The Payment Services Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/752) form the primary statutory framework governing payment services, payment systems access, and payme
United States
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