{
 "jurisdiction_id": "AT",
 "jurisdiction": "Austria",
 "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/",
 "generator": "render_jid v13.3.0",
 "date_modified": "2026-08-11",
 "schema_version": "world-payments-v1",
 "counts": {
  "modules": 14,
  "sourced_findings": 77,
  "source_register": 135
 },
 "modules": [
  {
   "code": "W1a",
   "name": "Licensing, Authorisation & Market Access",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w1a-licensing-authorisation-market-access",
   "standing_position": "Austria runs a function-based licensing regime under the Payment Services Act 2018 (ZaDiG 2018, transposing PSD2), the Banking Act (BWG) and the Electronic Money Act 2010 (E-GeldG). The FMA is sole licensing/supervisory authority for payment institutions, PISPs and AISPs; CRR credit institutions are licensed via the ECB/SSM with FMA as national conduit. MiCAR CASP authorisation is now layered on top for crypto-asset firms. No sub-national licensing tier exists; this is a unitary federal-level regime.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "ZaDiG 2018 (Payment Services Act)",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/financial-service-providers/payment-institutions/licencing-and-registration-of-payment-services/",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/financial-service-providers/payment-institutions/licencing-and-registration-of-payment-services/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "ZaDiG 2018 (Payment Services Act)",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/financial-service-providers/payment-institutions/",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/banks/licensing-notification/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "BWG (Banking Act) / CRR",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/banks/licensing-notification/",
     "source_url": "https://vlolawfirm.com/tpost/austria-banking-finance",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "ZaDiG 2018 / E-GeldG 2010",
     "source": "https://vlolawfirm.com/tpost/austria-banking-finance",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/financial-service-providers/payment-institutions/services-exempted-from-the-scope-of-zadig-2018/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "MiCAR (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114)",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/fma-takes-over-casp-supervision-in-austria/",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/financial-service-providers/payment-institutions/services-exempted-from-the-scope-of-zadig-2018/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "ZaDiG 2018 Art.3(3)(11)-(12)",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/financial-service-providers/payment-institutions/services-exempted-from-the-scope-of-zadig-2018/",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/financial-service-providers/payment-institutions/services-exempted-from-the-scope-of-zadig-2018/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W1b",
   "name": "Conduct, Safeguarding & Financial Promotions",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w1b-conduct-safeguarding-financial-promotions",
   "standing_position": "Safeguarding of payment-service-user and e-money-holder funds is anchored in ZaDiG 2018 Art.18/19 and the E-GeldG 2010. Conduct supervision of banks, payment institutions and e-money institutions has been centralised since 2025 in a dedicated FMA division alongside IT-risk (DORA) oversight. Consumer-facing distance-sales conduct is layered on via the Distance Financial Services Act (FernFinG), with FMA acting only for collective consumer protection, not individual redress.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "ZaDiG 2018 Art.18/19",
     "source": "https://fma.gv.at/wp-content/plugins/dw-fma/download.php?d=3569",
     "source_url": "https://fma.gv.at/wp-content/plugins/dw-fma/download.php?d=3569",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "DORA / EBA Guidelines",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/banks/conduct-and-it-risk-supervision-of-banks/",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/banks/conduct-and-it-risk-supervision-of-banks/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "E-GeldG 2010 §18/§19",
     "source": "https://www.unger-rechtsanwaelte.at/en/news/detail/supreme-court-decision-on-voucher-cards-value-cards-ogh-4-ob-207-22b",
     "source_url": "https://www.unger-rechtsanwaelte.at/en/news/detail/supreme-court-decision-on-voucher-cards-value-cards-ogh-4-ob-207-22b",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "FernFinG (Distance Financial Services Act)",
     "source": "https://finanznavi.gv.at/en/topics/consumer-protection/financial-advice-and-consumer-protection",
     "source_url": "https://finanznavi.gv.at/en/topics/consumer-protection/financial-advice-and-consumer-protection",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "FMABG (supervisory conduct rules)",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/the-latest-edition-of-the-fmas-consumer-information-series-lets-talk-about-money-explains-how-complaints-about-financial-service-providers-can-be-solved-quickly-and-satisfactorily/",
     "source_url": "https://finanznavi.gv.at/en/topics/consumer-protection/financial-advice-and-consumer-protection",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W2",
   "name": "Stablecoins & Digital Money",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w2-stablecoins-digital-money",
   "standing_position": "Austria's digital-money regime combines the long-standing E-Geld Gesetz 2010 for traditional e-money with MiCAR, now fully in force for crypto-asset service providers and issuers (including stablecoin EMTs/ARTs) with the FMA as competent authority. Uptake remains modest but growing, and domestic crypto/stablecoin players (notably Bitpanda) are extending into MiCA-compliant stablecoin distribution.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "MiCAR (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114)",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/fma-takes-over-casp-supervision-in-austria/",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/fma-takes-over-casp-supervision-in-austria/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "MiCAR Art.63",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "E-Geld Gesetz 2010",
     "source": "https://ceelegalmatters.com/banking-2023/banking-austria-2023",
     "source_url": "https://tracxn.com/d/companies/bitpanda/__1DgHSfoxIMYJDSnj0kEMyX7sE2CeMPg68Mvd9_9yqQg",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "OeNB survey data",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/fma-takes-over-casp-supervision-in-austria/",
     "source_url": "https://tracxn.com/d/companies/bitpanda/__1DgHSfoxIMYJDSnj0kEMyX7sE2CeMPg68Mvd9_9yqQg",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "MiCAR EMT distribution",
     "source": "https://tracxn.com/d/companies/bitpanda/__1DgHSfoxIMYJDSnj0kEMyX7sE2CeMPg68Mvd9_9yqQg",
     "source_url": "https://tracxn.com/d/companies/bitpanda/__1DgHSfoxIMYJDSnj0kEMyX7sE2CeMPg68Mvd9_9yqQg",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W3",
   "name": "Operational Resilience & Critical Infrastructure",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w3-operational-resilience-critical-infrastructure",
   "standing_position": "DORA has applied directly in Austria since 17 January 2025, binding on all FMA-supervised entities including small payment and e-money institutions, and is enforced nationally via the DORA Enforcement Act. The FMA's Conduct and IT Risk Supervision division centralises ICT-incident, outsourcing and register-of-information oversight; the ECB's digital-euro preparation phase (targeted 2026) is a parallel resilience/infrastructure horizon item.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "DORA (Regulation (EU) 2022/2554)",
     "source": "https://vlolawfirm.com/tpost/austria-banking-finance",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/wp-content/plugins/dw-fma/download.php?d=2144&nonce=279fcff0daaf52c9",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "DORA-VG (DORA Enforcement Act)",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/wp-content/plugins/dw-fma/download.php?d=2144&nonce=279fcff0daaf52c9",
     "source_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.pr251030~8c5b5beef0.en.html",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "DORA / EBA Guidelines",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/banks/conduct-and-it-risk-supervision-of-banks/",
     "source_url": "https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/banking-and-finance-laws-and-regulations/austria/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "ECB digital euro programme",
     "source": "https://www.cerhahempel.com/fileadmin/docs/publications/Knobl/Banking_Regulation_in_Austria_Overview.pdf",
     "source_url": "https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/banking-and-finance-laws-and-regulations/austria/",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "BWG Art.25 / EBA outsourcing guidelines",
     "source": "https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/banking-and-finance-laws-and-regulations/austria/",
     "source_url": "https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/banking-and-finance-laws-and-regulations/austria/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W4",
   "name": "Scheme & Network Compliance",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w4-scheme-network-compliance",
   "standing_position": "Card-scheme compliance in Austria sits on the directly-applicable EU Interchange Fee Regulation (2015/751), capping interchange at 0.3%/0.2% for credit/debit four-party scheme transactions, layered with PCI DSS and scheme rulebook obligations enforced contractually via acquirers. No Austria-specific interchange enforcement action or domestic scheme-rule carve-out was identified as in force; the market's card-acquiring layer includes Concardis and Worldline alongside domestic banks.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU Interchange Fee Regulation 2015/751",
     "source": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32015R0751",
     "source_url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32015R0751",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU Interchange Fee Regulation 2015/751",
     "source": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32015R0751",
     "source_url": "https://interchangefeeseu.com/countries/interchange-fees-in-austria",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU IFR national implementation",
     "source": "https://interchangefeeseu.com/countries/interchange-fees-in-austria",
     "source_url": "https://interchangefeeseu.com/countries/interchange-fees-in-austria",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "Visa/Mastercard scheme rulebooks",
     "source": "https://www.pxp.io/payments-glossary/card-scheme-rules",
     "source_url": "https://interchangefeeseu.com/countries/interchange-fees-in-austria",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W5",
   "name": "Payment Corridor Dynamics",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w5-payment-corridor-dynamics",
   "standing_position": "Austria's core corridor is intra-SEPA, now fully instant-payments-enabled following the EU Instant Payments Regulation (2024/886), with PSA operating national instant-payment routing and Verification of Payee services connected to the ECB's TIPS settlement layer. A secondary Alpine mobile-wallet corridor (Bluecode-TWINT via Banking Circle) has emerged, while non-SEPA corridors (notably Austria-US) remain correspondent-banking-dependent with materially slower, costlier settlement.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU Regulation 260/2012 (SEPA Regulation)",
     "source": "https://www.oenb.at/en/Payment-Processing/cashless-payments/SEPA.html",
     "source_url": "https://www.oenb.at/en/Payment-Processing/cashless-payments/SEPA-Payment-Instruments/sepa-instant-credit-transfer.html",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU Instant Payments Regulation 2024/886",
     "source": "https://www.oenb.at/en/Payment-Processing/cashless-payments/SEPA-Payment-Instruments/sepa-instant-credit-transfer.html",
     "source_url": "https://www.psa.at/en/payment-services",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EPC VoP Scheme / IPR",
     "source": "https://www.psa.at/en/payment-services",
     "source_url": "https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/banking-circle-supports-bluecode-and-twint-powering-interoperability-between-national-mobile-payment-systems/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS)",
     "source": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/retail/instant_payments/html/index.en.html",
     "source_url": "https://www.lightspark.com/knowledge/austria-instant-payments",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EMPSA cross-scheme interoperability",
     "source": "https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/banking-circle-supports-bluecode-and-twint-powering-interoperability-between-national-mobile-payment-systems/",
     "source_url": "https://www.lightspark.com/knowledge/austria-instant-payments",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "Correspondent banking (non-SEPA corridor)",
     "source": "https://www.lightspark.com/knowledge/austria-instant-payments",
     "source_url": "https://www.lightspark.com/knowledge/austria-instant-payments",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W6",
   "name": "Industry Structure & Commercial Dynamics",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w6-industry-structure-commercial-dynamics",
   "standing_position": "Austria's payments industry remains bank-centric (Erste Group, Raiffeisen Bank International, UniCredit Bank Austria dominate rails and infrastructure) but is increasingly overlaid with a fintech layer of roughly 200-300 firms spanning payments, wealthtech, regtech and blockchain, many using Austria as a base for CEE expansion. Digital-only entrants (Revolut) and bank-launched wallets (RaiPay) compete alongside BNPL providers, against a backdrop of a sharply cooling 2025 domestic startup-funding environment.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "market structure",
     "source": "https://thefintechtimes.com/the-fintech-and-wider-digital-landscape-of-austria-in-2026/",
     "source_url": "https://thefintechtimes.com/the-fintech-and-wider-digital-landscape-of-austria-in-2026/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "bank-fintech hybrid model",
     "source": "https://thefintechtimes.com/the-fintech-and-wider-digital-landscape-of-austria-in-2026/",
     "source_url": "https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5614912/austria-cards-and-payments-opportunities-and",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "digital-only bank entry",
     "source": "https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5614912/austria-cards-and-payments-opportunities-and",
     "source_url": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "startup funding market",
     "source": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_url": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "BNPL market entry",
     "source": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/austria-cards-and-payments-market-analysis/",
     "source_url": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "FMA supervisory priorities",
     "source": "https://grokipedia.com/page/financial_market_authority_austria",
     "source_url": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W7",
   "name": "Legal & Litigation",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w7-legal-litigation",
   "standing_position": "Austrian payments-adjacent litigation in the current cycle centres on the Supreme Court's (OGH) reversal of long-standing precedent on bank fee clauses, driven by ECJ case law, alongside an e-money-specific ruling on prepaid/voucher card redemption fees. Separately, the FMA's sanctions-enforcement mandate expanded sharply from 1 January 2026, creating a new administrative-penalty exposure line for payment institutions and CASPs.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "OGH 7 Ob 169/24i (19 Feb 2025)",
     "source": "https://www.dlapiper.com/en-us/insights/publications/2025/05/coup-de-theatre-the-austrian-supreme-court-s-180-degree-shift-on-loan-processing-fees",
     "source_url": "https://www.dlapiper.com/en-us/insights/publications/2025/05/coup-de-theatre-the-austrian-supreme-court-s-180-degree-shift-on-loan-processing-fees",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "OGH 2 Ob 52/25y (23 Oct 2025)",
     "source": "https://www.unger-rechtsanwaelte.at/en/news/detail/refund-of-excessive-loan-processing-fees-ogh-23102025-2-ob-52-25y",
     "source_url": "https://www.unger-rechtsanwaelte.at/en/news/detail/refund-of-excessive-loan-processing-fees-ogh-23102025-2-ob-52-25y",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "OGH 4 Ob 207/22b",
     "source": "https://www.unger-rechtsanwaelte.at/en/news/detail/supreme-court-decision-on-voucher-cards-value-cards-ogh-4-ob-207-22b",
     "source_url": "https://www.mondaq.com/austria/financial-services/1799420/austria-centralises-financial-sanctions-oversight-fma-assumes-new-powers-in-2026",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "Sanctions Act 2024 (SanktG 2024)",
     "source": "https://www.mondaq.com/austria/financial-services/1799420/austria-centralises-financial-sanctions-oversight-fma-assumes-new-powers-in-2026",
     "source_url": "https://www.mondaq.com/austria/financial-services/1799420/austria-centralises-financial-sanctions-oversight-fma-assumes-new-powers-in-2026",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "SanktG 2024 Art.7",
     "source": "https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/banking-and-finance-laws-and-regulations/austria/",
     "source_url": "https://www.mondaq.com/austria/financial-services/1799420/austria-centralises-financial-sanctions-oversight-fma-assumes-new-powers-in-2026",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W8",
   "name": "Merchant Acquiring & Risk",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w8-merchant-acquiring-risk",
   "standing_position": "Austrian merchant acquiring operates within the EU's directly-applicable interchange and unbundled-pricing rules, with Concardis and Worldline named among the acquirers active alongside domestic banks. Dispute exposure is shaped by SEPA Direct Debit's consumer-friendly eight-week refund right and by PSD2 SCA requirements; European acquirer consolidation (Worldline-SIX, Nexi-Nets/SIA) forms the competitive backdrop, though no Austria-specific high-risk-MCC instrument was identified.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "acquiring market structure",
     "source": "https://interchangefeeseu.com/countries/interchange-fees-in-austria",
     "source_url": "https://gr4vy.com/posts/how-european-merchants-can-reduce-chargebacks-and-protect-revenue-in-2026/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU Interchange Fee Regulation Art.9",
     "source": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32015R0751",
     "source_url": "https://www.ixopay.com/blog/payment-service-providers-and-the-difficult-choices-merchants",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "SEPA Direct Debit refund right",
     "source": "https://gr4vy.com/posts/how-european-merchants-can-reduce-chargebacks-and-protect-revenue-in-2026/",
     "source_url": "https://www.ixopay.com/blog/payment-service-providers-and-the-difficult-choices-merchants",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "PSD2 SCA",
     "source": "https://gr4vy.com/posts/how-european-merchants-can-reduce-chargebacks-and-protect-revenue-in-2026/",
     "source_url": "https://www.ixopay.com/blog/payment-service-providers-and-the-difficult-choices-merchants",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "acquirer market consolidation",
     "source": "https://www.ixopay.com/blog/payment-service-providers-and-the-difficult-choices-merchants",
     "source_url": "https://www.ixopay.com/blog/payment-service-providers-and-the-difficult-choices-merchants",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W9",
   "name": "Product Innovation & Market Development",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w9-product-innovation-market-development",
   "standing_position": "Product innovation in Austria is concentrated in instant-payments/Verification-of-Payee rollout, PSD2 open banking (led early by UniCredit Bank Austria), the FMA's 2020 regulatory sandbox, and the ECB's digital-euro preparation phase. Domestic crypto-native player Bitpanda is the standout product-innovation story, extending from crypto into regulated securities trading ahead of a planned IPO.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "FMA regulatory sandbox",
     "source": "https://noda.live/articles/open-banking-in-austria",
     "source_url": "https://noda.live/articles/open-banking-in-austria",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "PSD2 open banking",
     "source": "https://www.yapily.com/blog/open-banking-austria-instant-payments",
     "source_url": "https://www.trendingtopics.eu/bitpanda-launches-stock-and-etf-trading-expanding-beyond-crypto-assets/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU Instant Payments Regulation / VoP",
     "source": "https://www.psa.at/en/payment-services",
     "source_url": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/austria-cards-and-payments-market-analysis/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "ECB digital euro programme",
     "source": "https://www.cerhahempel.com/fileadmin/docs/publications/Knobl/Banking_Regulation_in_Austria_Overview.pdf",
     "source_url": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/austria-cards-and-payments-market-analysis/",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "product diversification",
     "source": "https://www.trendingtopics.eu/bitpanda-launches-stock-and-etf-trading-expanding-beyond-crypto-assets/",
     "source_url": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/austria-cards-and-payments-market-analysis/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "open banking payments partnership",
     "source": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/austria-cards-and-payments-market-analysis/",
     "source_url": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/austria-cards-and-payments-market-analysis/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W10",
   "name": "Consumer Protection & APP Fraud",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w10-consumer-protection-app-fraud",
   "standing_position": "Consumer protection for Austrian payments is split between the FMA (financial-product complaints, collective protection only) and the BMASGPK/VKI (general consumer law, representative actions). Fraud-prevention has been strengthened structurally via mandatory Verification of Payee under the Instant Payments Regulation, while the FMA runs an active public-facing fraud-warning programme and names 'bolstering collective consumer protection against investment fraud' among its 2025/2026 supervisory priorities.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "FMABG complaints handling",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/complaints-and-points-of-contact/",
     "source_url": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/complaints-and-points-of-contact/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU Representative Actions Directive 2020/1828",
     "source": "https://iclg.com/practice-areas/consumer-protection-laws-and-regulations/austria",
     "source_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/retail/instant_payments/html/instant_payments_regulation.en.html",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "FMA fraud-warning programme",
     "source": "https://www.fma.gv.at/en/spotting-financial-fraudsters/the-latest-tricks-being-used-by-financial-fraudsters/",
     "source_url": "https://grokipedia.com/page/financial_market_authority_austria",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "EU Instant Payments Regulation - VoP",
     "source": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/retail/instant_payments/html/instant_payments_regulation.en.html",
     "source_url": "https://grokipedia.com/page/financial_market_authority_austria",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "consumer fraud-protection guidance",
     "source": "https://finanznavi.gv.at/en/topics/consumer-protection/protection-against-financial-fraud",
     "source_url": "https://grokipedia.com/page/financial_market_authority_austria",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "FMA supervisory priorities",
     "source": "https://grokipedia.com/page/financial_market_authority_austria",
     "source_url": "https://grokipedia.com/page/financial_market_authority_austria",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W11",
   "name": "AML/CFT & Financial Crime",
   "confidence": "Confirmed",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w11-aml-cft-financial-crime",
   "standing_position": "Sentinel-fed payments-context position: Austria's AML/CFT architecture rests on the FM-GwG (FMA as competent supervisor for credit/financial institutions, payment institutions, EMIs, CASPs, AIFMs, insurers), with the FIU housed at the Criminal Intelligence Service Austria. The Sanctions Act 2024 (SanktG 2024) transferred sanctions monitoring/enforcement from the OeNB to the FMA effective 1 January 2026, extending scope to all obliged entities partly in response to FATF evaluation findings; EU Travel Rule obligations apply to CASPs.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "sentinel.fatf_driven_expansion",
     "source": "https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/banking-and-finance-laws-and-regulations/austria/",
     "source_url": "https://www.legal500.com/guides/chapter/austria-fintech/",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": "Austria's AML/CFT/CPF regime rests on the FMA (financial supervision), the police-based A-FIU, and the WiEReG beneficial-ownership register. The FATF's April 2026 5th-round MER found clear progress on BO transparency and supervision but placed Austria in enhanced follow-up over FIU resourcing, restrictive ML-offence interpretation, weak asset recovery, and fragmented DNFBP supervision.",
     "instrument_type": "assessment",
     "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) per-JID baseline profile — Austria",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": null,
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": "Enforcement: Austrian Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) — Rene Benko",
     "instrument_type": "enforcement_action",
     "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) enforcement_action_register (issue FIM-BASE-ENF-004)",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": "Gap: enforcement-absence",
     "instrument_type": "gap",
     "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) gaps_register_cumulative (issue FIM-BASE-GAP-002)",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": null,
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": "Gap: capacity-deficit",
     "instrument_type": "gap",
     "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) gaps_register_cumulative (issue FIM-BASE-GAP-001)",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": null,
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": "Gap: political-constraint",
     "instrument_type": "gap",
     "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) gaps_register_cumulative (issue FIM-BASE-GAP-003)",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": null,
     "retrieved_at": null
    },
    {
     "finding": "Gap: sourcing-thinness",
     "instrument_type": "gap",
     "source": "FIM (sentinel.gi) gaps_register_cumulative (issue FIM-BASE-GAP-004)",
     "source_url": null,
     "source_tier": null,
     "retrieved_at": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W12",
   "name": "Correspondent Banking, Settlement & Access",
   "confidence": "High",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w12-correspondent-banking-settlement-access",
   "standing_position": "Domestic payment-system oversight sits with the OeNB until 1 January 2026 when it transfers to the FMA alongside sanctions competence. TARGET2/T2 remains the euro settlement backbone underpinning TIPS instant settlement, with the Settlement Finality Act and ZaDiG's bank-access provisions forming the domestic legal plumbing; non-SEPA corridors such as Austria-US remain correspondent-banking dependent.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "OeNB payment systems oversight",
     "source": "https://www.cerhahempel.com/fileadmin/docs/publications/Knobl/Banking_Regulation_in_Austria_Overview.pdf",
     "source_url": "https://www.cerhahempel.com/fileadmin/docs/publications/Knobl/Banking_Regulation_in_Austria_Overview.pdf",
     "source_tier": "2",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "TARGET2/T2-TIPS settlement architecture",
     "source": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/target/target-professional-use-documents-links/tips/shared/pdf/TIPS_UHB_v.2.1.1_191025_rev.pdf",
     "source_url": "https://fma.gv.at/wp-content/plugins/dw-fma/download.php?d=3569",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "Settlement Finality Act (Finalitätsgesetz)",
     "source": "https://fma.gv.at/wp-content/plugins/dw-fma/download.php?d=3569",
     "source_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/target/target-professional-use-documents-links/tips/shared/pdf/TIPS_UHB_v.2.1.1_191025_rev.pdf",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "ZaDiG 2018 Art.6 (bank access)",
     "source": "https://fma.gv.at/wp-content/plugins/dw-fma/download.php?d=3569",
     "source_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/target/target-professional-use-documents-links/tips/shared/pdf/TIPS_UHB_v.2.1.1_191025_rev.pdf",
     "source_tier": "1",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "correspondent banking (non-SEPA corridor)",
     "source": "https://www.lightspark.com/knowledge/austria-instant-payments",
     "source_url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/target/target-professional-use-documents-links/tips/shared/pdf/TIPS_UHB_v.2.1.1_191025_rev.pdf",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "W13",
   "name": "Commercial Intelligence & Fintech",
   "confidence": "Assessed",
   "moved_this_cycle": true,
   "url": "https://payments.gi/jurisdictions/austria/#w13-commercial-intelligence-fintech",
   "standing_position": "Trailing-12-month Austrian payments commercial activity is dominated by Bitpanda's build-out ahead of a planned Frankfurt IPO (stock/ETF product launch, Bitpanda Enterprise B2B platform, Global Dollar Network stablecoin distribution, Deutsche Börse cooperation), set against a broader Austrian startup-funding contraction in 2025.",
   "findings": [
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "commercial_event: financial results / IPO preparation",
     "source": "https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/03/14/crypto-broker-bitpanda-bets-on-banks-and-tokenization-to-expand-globally-ahead-of-ipo-plans",
     "source_url": "https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/03/14/crypto-broker-bitpanda-bets-on-banks-and-tokenization-to-expand-globally-ahead-of-ipo-plans",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "commercial_event: product launch",
     "source": "https://www.trendingtopics.eu/bitpanda-launches-stock-and-etf-trading-expanding-beyond-crypto-assets/",
     "source_url": "https://tracxn.com/d/companies/bitpanda/__1DgHSfoxIMYJDSnj0kEMyX7sE2CeMPg68Mvd9_9yqQg",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "commercial_event: stablecoin distribution partnership",
     "source": "https://tracxn.com/d/companies/bitpanda/__1DgHSfoxIMYJDSnj0kEMyX7sE2CeMPg68Mvd9_9yqQg",
     "source_url": "https://www.trendingtopics.eu/bitpanda-launches-stock-and-etf-trading-expanding-beyond-crypto-assets/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "commercial_event: B2B platform launch",
     "source": "https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/03/14/crypto-broker-bitpanda-bets-on-banks-and-tokenization-to-expand-globally-ahead-of-ipo-plans",
     "source_url": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "commercial_event: exchange partnership",
     "source": "https://tracxn.com/d/companies/bitpanda/__1DgHSfoxIMYJDSnj0kEMyX7sE2CeMPg68Mvd9_9yqQg",
     "source_url": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    },
    {
     "finding": null,
     "instrument_type": "commercial_event: aggregate market funding",
     "source": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_url": "https://techfundingnews.com/austria-vc-253m-2025-late-stage-slowdown/",
     "source_tier": "3",
     "retrieved_at": "2026-07-04"
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}