Daily · Swiss Sanctions & US Exchange Adjustments · August 20, 2026

Swiss alignment with EU sanctions

Switzerland is significantly tightening its restrictive measures today. The Federal Council has decided to join the 20th European Union sanctions package against Russia, with the decision effective as of August 20, 2026. This move extends the perimeter of sanctions to include all entities and individuals targeted by the EU's 20th package. Simultaneously, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has updated its list of sanctioned natural persons, companies, and organizations linked to ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Kaida under the Ordinance of 21 March 2025.

For businesses, these updates necessitate an immediate review of counterparty screening and KYC (Know Your Customer) protocols. Failure to implement these changes instantly could result in prohibited transactions with newly sanctioned parties, risking severe legal penalties in Switzerland. Our read: This further cements the Swiss strategy of mirroring EU foreign policy to prevent the Swiss financial center from becoming a loophole for sanctions evasion.

Infrastructure updates for US exchanges

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved several technical adjustments to exchange operations. Nasdaq Texas, LLC, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, and Nasdaq PHLX LLC have all amended their connectivity schedules—the technical rules governing how firms connect to the exchange—and have discontinued previously proposed offerings. In a separate move, Cboe Exchange, Inc. has amended its fees schedule specifically concerning certain free trials.

While these changes are procedural, they matter for firms that execute trades or maintain direct technical links to these markets, as connectivity changes can impact trading latency or access. The Cboe update specifically affects the cost structure for those utilizing trial services. Our read: These are primarily housekeeping measures to streamline exchange infrastructure and pricing models.

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:

CH (3)

UK (3)

US (10)