Compliance Budgets Surge as Firms Race to Integrate AI and Navigate Digital Asset Risks
Event summary
- StarCompliance's inaugural 2026 Global Compliance Benchmark Study surveyed 300+ compliance, risk, and technology professionals.
- 76% of firms report increased compliance budgets, with 67% already deploying or piloting AI capabilities.
- 40% of respondents feel least prepared for digital assets and crypto risks, while 34% lack policies on prediction markets.
- Fragmented systems and siloed data remain key challenges in scaling surveillance and operationalizing AI effectively.
The big picture
The financial services industry is at a pivotal moment where compliance is evolving from a reactive function to a strategic enabler. As firms invest heavily in technology, the ability to unify fragmented systems will determine their capacity to manage emerging risks like digital assets while meeting rising regulatory expectations.
What we're watching
- AI Integration
- How the pace of AI adoption will impact compliance efficiency and regulatory scrutiny.
- Digital Asset Risks
- Whether firms can quickly develop policies to address growing exposure to crypto and prediction markets.
- Connected Compliance
- The shift toward unified compliance ecosystems and its effect on operational resilience.
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