Why Company Registries Are Changing (According to Kyckr)

Global corporate registries are entering a new phase, moving from passive record-keepers to active gatekeepers. Recent cases – including the BBC’s exposé on illegal UK mini-marts – show how criminals exploit self-declared, unverified registry data. But reforms are accelerating worldwide.

You can read Kyckr CEO Steve Lamb’s full article here in the Fintech Times.

Key Shifts for 2026

1. Verification becomes standard

Singapore’s ACRA struck off 50,000 non-compliant entities in 2024. The UK has just begun director ID verification (in late 2025). Across OECD countries, verified submissions are replacing self-declared information.

2. Data becomes more harmonised

Standards such as BODS and the EU’s BRIS network are pushing toward consistent, comparable registry data globally.

3. Global identifiers expand

LEIs are now mandatory across major markets, with more countries adopting them in 2026.

4. Real-time access grows

API-based registry access is already live in Estonia, New Zealand, Belgium, and the UK, with Ireland and Malta following.

5. UBO transparency remains contested

EU rules now restrict access to those with “legitimate interest,” but harmonisation is uneven. This friction will continue into 2026.

6. Digitisation accelerates

Company registries, like Vietnam and Cyprus, are increasingly moving to fully digital filings, enabling cleaner data and automated verification.

7. Interconnected systems emerge

Many countries – such as Estonia, Denmark, and the UK – are linking registries with tax and enforcement databases to improve fraud detection.

Why It Matters

Financial crime teams can no longer rely on self-declared company information. Verified, standardised, real-time registry data is becoming the new baseline for effective KYB and risk management in 2026.