IOSCO Maps Global SupTech Adoption

Last month, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published the findings of its first SupTech Survey, a global mapping of how securities regulators are using technology in financial supervision.

Conducted in early 2025 under the leadership of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the survey drew responses from 49 authorities across all IOSCO regions, together accounting for more than 75 percent of global securities market value. The report concludes that supervisory technology (SupTech), the application of technology to improve supervisory processes, “is no longer experimental” and is being integrated into core supervisory functions across jurisdictions and market types.

Efficiency was the most commonly cited motivation for adoption, named by 92 percent of authorities, followed by timeliness at 80 percent. Regulatory mandates were cited by just 14 percent, suggesting adoption is driven by internal priorities rather than external requirements. On the supply side, artificial intelligence applications, data access, and cloud infrastructure ranked as the leading enablers, while only 8 percent of respondents pointed to distributed ledger technology, a marked decline given its prior prominence on regulatory innovation agendas.

Cyber and data security risks were identified as the leading barrier, rated high or critical by 86 percent of respondents. Staff redundancy, by contrast, was cited by only 4 percent. “This highlights a broadly shared understanding that SupTech is intended to empower supervisors by complementing their work, not replacing it,” IOSCO explains. Half of responding authorities now maintain a dedicated SupTech budget, a share that rises among smaller and emerging market regulators, and in 45 percent of cases, responsibility for SupTech strategy sits with strategic leadership such as chairs, CEOs, or heads of supervision.

“The findings of this survey provide a baseline for continued dialogue, benchmarking, and shared progress,” IOSCO concludes. “By offering a snapshot of where authorities stand and where they aim to go, this report supports evidence-based decision-making and peer comparison. It also underscores the value of continued engagement to strengthen supervisory capabilities through technology.”