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ESMA brings Nasdaq-100 into the EU significant-benchmark perimeter

ESMA’s public benchmark-administrator surface has added the Nasdaq-100 Index after Nasdaq notified that EU use had crossed the €50bn threshold. The classification keeps a major US index administrator inside the EU Benchmarks Regulation’s significant-benchmark perimeter and on the Article 32 recognition route.
October 1, 2026
Europe
WHAT HAPPENED
On 1 October, ESMA’s benchmark-administrator page published a statement identifying the Nasdaq-100 Index as significant under Article 24(1)(a) of the EU Benchmarks Regulation. The underlying statement is dated 13 March 2026 and records Nasdaq Inc’s notification of 5 March 2026 that EU use had reached the €50bn threshold. ESMA lists the US administrator’s status as an application for recognition under Article 32.
WHY IT MATTERS
This is a regulatory-perimeter decision, not an endorsement of index quality and not a methodology change. It keeps one of the world’s most commercially important indices within the narrowed EU benchmark regime and makes recognition, supervision and benchmark governance a live infrastructure issue for EU products referencing the Nasdaq-100.
WHO IT AFFECTS
Nasdaq’s index business; EU supervised entities using the Nasdaq-100 in funds, derivatives and structured products; exchanges, issuers, benchmark licensees, data vendors and compliance teams.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Nasdaq Inc’s recognition status, the ESMA benchmark register, treatment of related benchmarks used in EU products, and any resulting licensing or governance changes.