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We’ve just passed the mid-point of 2026, and it’s been quite a busy year for the Before You Invest Blog. The first six months of 2026 have included several important topics for investors. If you’re a retail investor, work in the investment industry, or share investing information online, there have several notable changes, updates, and risks that you need to know about. Our Before You Invest Blog has covered many of these topics over the last six months. In case you missed them, here is a recap of some of the most important topics that you need to know about.
January 14 - Client Relationship Model Phase 3 (CRM3) rollout: What investors need to know.
Client Relationship Model Phase 3 (CRM3) came into effect on January 1, 2026. This means investors will see a difference in how investment costs are reported. If you work with an investment adviser and purchase mutual funds or ETFs, the disclosure of costs and fees associated with these products is changing. Learn more about these changes and what to expect from your annual investment statements by reading our post from January.
February 25 - What’s the latest on Value-Referenced Crypto Assets (VRCAs) aka Stablecoins?
Stablecoins continue to get a lot of press in Canada and around the world as a muddy regulatory picture slowly gets a little clearer. In Canada the regulatory focus on stablecoins is still being debated, but what is known right now when it comes to securities laws is found in CSA Staff Notice 21-333. Learn more about what 21-333 says and how securities laws currently apply to stablecoins by reading our post from February.
March 4 - Watch out for Ramp and Dump scams online
Pump and dump scams have reemerged under a new name – ramp and dump scams. If you look at, or search for investing content on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook, you may have already seen a post promoting a ramp and dump scam without even knowing it. If you’re a regular user of WhatsApp or Telegram you may have been pitched a ramp and dump scam by a stranger contacting you on the app. Learn more about ramp and dump scams, including how they work and how they are costing investors money, by reading our post from March.
April 29 – Nova Scotia Capital Markets 2026 Review
In April the Nova Scotia Securities Commission hosted Nova Scotia Capital Markets 2026 (NSCM2026), its biennial event for issuers, investors, market participants, academics, professionals and regulators. At NSCM2026 the Commission hosted timely panel discussions on:
- some of the key funding programs available to facilitate the growth of Nova Scotia enterprises, and how engagement with Indigenous communities can facilitate capital-raising;
- challenges law enforcement and regulators face in tackling rising investment fraud numbers, and some of the approaches and tools that securities regulators and others are using to focus on preventing investor harm before it occurs; and
- the critical role that venture capital plays by investing in start-up and early-stage companies to create employment and growth in the local economy, and how enterprises can best attract venture capital investment.
NSCM2026 also featured a keynote address from the Minister of Finance, the Honourable John Lohr. Learn more about NSCM2026, including our featured panelists, moderators, and analysis of the panel discussions by reading our blog post from April.
May 20 - Finfluencers & securities laws Part 1: What securities laws apply?
May 27 - Finfluencers and securities laws Part 2: “General Advice Exemption”
Finfluencers continue to be all over social media, delivering financial literacy and investor tips and advice on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more. If you’re a finfluencer, what securities laws do you need to follow and understand when making content? In late 2025 CIRO and the CSA issued a joint notice to provide guidance on how securities laws apply to finfluencers. In our two-part blog series from May we took a closer look at the most important aspects of this guidance so finfluencers and those who follow them on social media know what they can and can’t do according to securities laws. Read our posts from May to learn more.
June 17 - Are Prediction Markets & Event Contracts legal in Nova Scotia?
Prediction markets and event contracts are becoming a big deal for investors and regulators. Both have received considerable attention by media and are becoming very popular with investors and gamblers (mostly young men) around the world. But, what does that mean for Noa Scotians? Can Nova Scotia trade event contracts on predictions markets? Learn about the current securities laws around prediction markets and event contracts and what that could mean for the future of these products by reading our blog post from June.