Daily · Sanctions Updates & Swap Margin Relief · July 17, 2026
Sanctions and National Security
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has updated its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, adding new individuals and updating identifying information for existing entries. For businesses, this is a critical compliance trigger; any property held by these persons under U.S. jurisdiction is now blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them. Failure to screen updated lists can lead to severe penalties. Simultaneously, the UK has issued new regulations under the National Security Act 2023 to designate specific bodies. This designation allows the government to impose stricter oversight and create legal offences related to those bodies, meaning companies partnering with or operating these entities must review their security obligations.
Banking and Swap Regulations
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has significantly eased margin requirements for uncleared swaps—private derivative contracts not traded on an exchange. Specifically, "seeded funds" (new investment funds receiving start-up capital) are now exempt from posting initial margin for up to three years from their trading start date. This reduces the upfront capital burden for fund managers launching new vehicles. Additionally, the CFTC expanded the types of eligible collateral to include certain money market funds and adjusted the "haircut" (the percentage discount applied to collateral value), which effectively increases the liquidity and flexibility of assets used to secure these trades. In the EU, the EBA is moving forward with technical standards for bank mergers and acquisitions and preparing for 2027 market risk benchmarking.
Crypto and Digital Assets
Institutional access to Bitcoin volatility is expanding as NYSE American increases the position and exercise limits for options on the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF. This allows larger investors to take more significant stakes in Bitcoin-linked derivatives without hitting regulatory ceilings. In Europe, the European Central Bank is continuing to signal its strategic direction for the digital euro, emphasizing a cooperative framework for its implementation to ensure the central bank digital currency integrates smoothly with the existing financial ecosystem.
Market Oversight and Consumer Alerts
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued an urgent warning to customers of insurance broker Anthony Jones (UK) Limited, which has ceased all regulated activities. Businesses using this broker must contact their insurers directly to confirm their coverage remains valid. In the US, the SEC has approved a series of immediate rule and fee changes across multiple exchanges, including Cboe, Nasdaq, and MIAX, primarily affecting options regulatory fees and member disqualification definitions. Other UK updates today include technical amendments to chemical registration (REACH), electricity capacity, and aviation restrictions.
This overview is informational, not legal or compliance advice. Consult your lawyer or compliance specialist on specific decisions.
Sources
This overview is based on official regulator publications for the period: