Complexity Report Hero

The New Growth Imperative

Cutting Through Complexity in the Financial System

Created in partnership with BCG

Exponential growth in complexity will continue.

The challenge—and opportunity—lies in our ability to navigate this complexity without adding excessive layers of complicatedness. The good news is that as both external complexity and internal complicatedness have grown, so have the solutions to help manage them.

Complexity & Complicatedness are on the Rise

Top 5 Challenges Characteristic of Excess Complicatedness

Adena Friedman_Headshot_1x1_3_2025 1.jpg

"By leveraging modern technology and embracing a systems-based approach, we can unlock significant efficiencies and foster a more resilient and innovative ecosystem towards the dual goal of resilience and growth."

Key Findings

The Opportunity is Significant

The very same solutions that sit at the core of the complicatedness challenge will serve as the foundation for success in tomorrow’s AI-enabled world. As such, effectively addressing these challenges today could protect and reinforce competitiveness well into the future.

The Time is Now

of Risk and Compliance (R&C) leaders across industries believe they have “implemented solutions that are fully effective” to address increased complexity.

of bank R&C leaders are comfortable leveraging cloud infrastructure.

of industry professionals have a preference to build software solutions in house.

Tal Cohen

"The transformative potential of AI will redefine every industry—including the financial industry—in the years ahead. The very same solutions that sit at the core of the complicatedness challenge will serve as the foundation for success in tomorrow’s AI-enabled world.”

From Complexity to Clarity

The Age of Complexity and How the Financial Industry Needs to Respond​
Over the past 50 years, the financial system has grown six fold more complex due to factors like geopolitical uncertainty and increasing regulation. At the same time, internal complicatedness, the layers of processes organizations use to respond to complexity, rose thirty-five fold in that time, slowing innovation and draining efficiency.​ By embracing systems-based, people-led solutions, organizations can streamline operations, boost agility, and strengthen resilience. Nasdaq is helping lead the shift from complexity to clarity with integrated platforms that replace fragmented processes with cloud-native, AI-ready solutions simplifying mission-critical operations and future-proofing financial institutions.​
Nov 19, 2025
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The New Growth Imperative

Nasdaq’s latest report measures the cost of complexity across the financial system and provides new and fresh perspectives on how institutions can adapt to the exponential growth of complexity while minimizing internal complicatedness and friction. The report spotlights:

  • Increasing Complexity in Financial Institutions
  • Cost of Complexity
  • Opportunities for Efficiency Gains
  • Transformation Through Technology
  • Quality of Solutions Suites

Nasdaq’s latest report measures the cost of complexity across the financial system and provides new and fresh perspectives on how institutions can adapt to the exponential growth of complexity while minimizing internal complicatedness and friction. The report spotlights:

  • Increasing Complexity in Financial Institutions
  • Cost of Complexity
  • Opportunities for Efficiency Gains
  • Transformation Through Technology
  • Quality of Solutions Suites

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