Worldwide Capital Markets Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance Technology Trends, 2026

This IDC Perspective discusses worldwide capital markets enterprise risk management and compliance technology trends. In 2026, compliance will become the defining test for capital markets. Regulators across the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Asia/Pacific are demanding evidence of surveillance, reconciliation, resilience, AI governance, and cross-border oversight. Firms are responding by investing in post-trade automation, algorithmic explainability, ICT resilience, and sanctions controls. IDC data shows that software spend in capital markets will grow 18% in 2026, reflecting demand for automation, resilience, and transparency. Compliance is no longer a cost of survival; it is becoming the foundation of trust and market integrity."In 2026, capital markets will be judged by how well they automate settlement, govern AI, and prove resilience - Compliance has become the measure of market integrity." - Sam Abadir, research director, Risk, Compliance and Financial Crime