The MaltaFinancial Services Authority (MFSA) is ramping up its supervisory efforts,releasing the latest findings from its 2025 Outcomes-Based Supervision (OBS)initiative. Rather than simply checking compliance boxes, the watchdog spentthe last year evaluating how regular retail investors are treated in practice.Theregulator’s latest push targets two main areas: a sweeping review of onlinemarketing by investment firms, and a direct "Dear CEO" warning letteraddressing widespread issues in how client complaints are managed. Forexecutives in the fintech and FX/CFD spaces, the message is clear—marketingstrategies and customer service can no longer be treated as separate silos.KeyAreas of ConcernThe MFSA’srecent sweep uncovered significant gaps in both how high-risk products are soldand how investor disputes are resolved. The results suggest that firms need totake a hard look at both their client acquisition tactics and their back-officesupport systems. WhatThis Means for the Global FX/CFD IndustryWhile theseenforcement trends originate in Malta, they reflect the broader expectations ofEuropean and international regulators targeting conduct risk. The feedback loopbetween aggressive marketing and operational complaints is now a primary targetfor supervisory bodies. Cross-Border MarketingMaltese Enforcement Reality: Regulators are mandating localized, highly visible risk disclosures and continuous post-publication tracking for all advertisements.Global Industry Implications: Passported brands are forced to align their marketing across all jurisdictions, closing any compliance gaps between different regions.Affiliate AccountabilityMaltese Enforcement Reality: Firms face direct liability for any non-compliant promotional materials published by external partners or introducing brokers (IBs).Global Industry Implications: Companies must de-risk their partner networks by deploying automated web-scraping compliance tools and enforcing stricter legal contracts.This isonly a snapshot of the full scope of the MFSA’s findings. To read the completeanalysis and unlock deeper regulatory insights, visit the FM Intelligenceportal.This article was written by Sylwester Majewski at www.financemagnates.com.