August 2026 – Global Investment Law Watch

United States: Mid-Year Prediction Market Report: Uncertainty Prevails Amidst Extraordinary Federal Action

Aug 24 2026

Thoreau A. Bartmann, Tamika P. Bent, Sanjeev Bhasker, Todd S. Fishman, Sarah V. Riddell, and Andrew M. Wright

During the first part of 2026, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or the Commission) has undertaken a sweeping campaign to protect its asserted exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets—the markets on which event contracts are traded. This effort includes a set of wide-ranging public remarks by its new chairman outlining a broad regulatory program, a set of lawsuits and case filings across the country, and a series of administrative measures, including proposed rulemakings.

Australia: New Protections in the Superannuation System

Aug 24 2026

By: Daniel Knight and Jocelyn Lau

The Government has announced reforms to strengthen consumer protections and the resilience of the superannuation and financial system. These changes are being made in response to high profile investment failures but may lead to increased compliance costs for providers.

Australia: Net Tangible Asset Requirement Set to Increase for Responsible Entities

Aug 10 2026

By: Daniel Knight and Jocelyn Lau

ASIC has announced that it will increase the net tangible assets (NTA) requirement for responsible entities of registered managed investment schemes (MIS), operators of investor directed portfolio services (IDPS) and corporate directors of retail corporate collective investment vehicles (CCIVs). The changes are set to commence on 1 July 2027.

United States: Dead Rules Walking: The SEC Removes Two Zombie Rules

Aug 06 2026

By: Thoreau Bartmann and Marguerite Laurent

Key Takeaways

On 4 August 2026 the SEC deleted two long dead requirements from its rulebook. SEC.gov | Investment Company Governance Technical Amendments. Specifically, the SEC deleted a requirement that 75% of a fund board be independent and that the board chair be independent, both provisions that had been struck down by a court in 2006, yet were still in the rulebook twenty years later.

Archive:August 2026