The proposal would allow fintechs, stablecoin issuers and other non-bank institutions to clear and settle payments directly through the Federal Reserve. Key Points Federal Reserve Payment Account proposal: fast-track access for fintechs, stablecoin issuers and nonbanks to Fedwire, FedNow, and NSS for direct clearing and settlement without banks. “Skinny” account design: no FedACH, no discount window, no interest; balance caps up to $1B; ~90‑day review timeline; reduced reliance on correspondent banking. Regulatory impact: BSA/AML and OFAC oversight, stablecoin reserve use, tokenized asset settlement,...

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AI’s overhaul of the tech industry will leave no stone unturned, and the AdTech sector is feeling the effects. AI, connected TV (CTV), and privacy-safe open-web buying are now table stakes, not differentiators. But as they converge within the advertising ecosystem, not every company is utilizing these tools to drive actual value. According to our analysis, nearly one in three U.S. digital ad dollars will go to CTV and premium online video this year, an increase from 27% in 2025 (per...

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The ambition is undeniable, but will the final rules live up to it? Europe has the talent but it lacks the framework. The Draghi and Letta reports, two of the most influential diagnoses of European competitiveness in recent years, identified the issue. So did Atomico's State of European Tech 2025 report: regulatory fragmentation acts as an invisible tariff on growth. A founder in California incorporates once and operates across a market of 340 million people. A founder in Barcelona, Warsaw...

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On 8 May 2026, the EU Commission opened its consultation on the draft guidelines on AI transparency obligations under Article 50 of the AI Act, providing practical guidance to help authorities, providers, and deployers of AI systems to comply with their relevant obligations in a consistent, effective, and uniform way. The consultation period will run until 3 June 2026. Parliament is expected to vote on the final text by 7 July 2026. The Commission’s decision came a day after the Council...

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Data center developers and hyperscalers are racing to build artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and data centers across the United States. In response, federal and state policymakers have introduced legislative measures targeting rising electricity costs, grid strain, environmental impacts, and AI-driven job losses. The most aggressive of these is a moratorium on data center construction. On March 25, 2026, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act. The act would impose a nationwide halt on constructing or...

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Most trademark problems do not begin with a refusal from the USPTO or a cease-and-desist letter from a competitor. They begin much earlier during product development and brand naming, often before legal is meaningfully involved. For in-house counsel, pre-launch trademark risk is less about technical doctrine and more about process. Decisions made under time constraints, reliance on incomplete clearance signals, selection of legally weak brands, and launching without a filing strategy all narrow options later and increase the cost of correction. The companies that encounter the most difficult trademark...

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Key takeaways Data is increasingly shared across vendors and cloud environments, expanding the attack surface. Organizations should embed cybersecurity resilience into their enterprise risk management framework. Improving third-party risk oversight and building a culture of shared accountability can help.   Financial services organizations continue to be among the industries most targeted for cyberattacks. Banks, lenders, investment firms and payment processors sit at the intersection of sensitive data, global money movement and critical infrastructure, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals, hacktivists and...

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place this summer across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will capture global attention with its exciting matches, heated rivalries, and memorable moments. However, the tournament also brings challenges off the field that players have to navigate. While athletes focus on the games at hand, they also work with their advisors to address a complex web of international tax obligations—particularly nonresident players who have the potential to earn income from participation bonuses and other...

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On 6 May 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a Public Statement presenting the results of its Common Supervisory Action (CSA) on the integration of sustainability into firms' suitability assessments and product governance processes and procedures under MiFID II. Background In October 2023, ESMA launched the CSA with national competent authorities (NCAs) to assess the progress made by investment firms and credit institutions in applying the key sustainability requirements introduced under the MiFID II Delegated Acts (CDR (EU) 2021/1253 and...

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