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Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND
GUARANTEES
Guarantees Issued and Credit Facilities Available
In addition to the default fund contributions and margin
collateral pledged by clearing members discussed in Note 14,
“Clearing Operations,” we have obtained financial guarantees
and credit facilities, which are guaranteed by us through
counter indemnities, to provide further liquidity related to our
clearing businesses. Financial guarantees issued to us totaled
$4 million as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025. As
discussed in “Other Credit Facilities,” of Note 8, “Debt
Obligations,” we also have credit facilities primarily related
to our Nasdaq Clearing operations, which are available in
multiple currencies.
Other Guarantees
Through our clearing operations in the financial markets,
Nasdaq Clearing is the legal counterparty for, and guarantees
the performance of, its clearing members. See Note 14,
“Clearing Operations,” for further discussion of Nasdaq
Clearing performance guarantees.
We believe that the potential for us to be required to make
payments under these arrangements is unlikely. Accordingly,
no contingent liability is recorded in the Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets for the above guarantees.
Routing Brokerage Activities
One of our broker-dealer subsidiaries, Nasdaq Execution
Services, provides a guarantee to securities clearinghouses
and exchanges under its standard membership agreements,
which require members to guarantee the performance of other
members. If a member becomes unable to satisfy its
obligations to a clearinghouse or exchange, other members
would be required to meet its shortfalls. To mitigate these
performance risks, the exchanges and clearinghouses often
require members to post collateral, as well as meet certain
minimum financial standards. Nasdaq Execution Services’
maximum potential liability under these arrangements cannot
be quantified. However, we believe that the potential for
Nasdaq Execution Services to be required to make payments
under these arrangements is unlikely. Accordingly, no
contingent liability is recorded in the Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets for these arrangements.
Legal and Regulatory Matters 
European Commission Matter
In September 2024, the European Commission, or the EC,
conducted an inspection at the Nasdaq Stockholm offices.
The inspection related to a potential competition law concern
regarding the trading of Nordic financial derivatives. We
understand that the EC's focus is a cooperative arrangement
with Eurex that was announced by Eurex and the Helsinki
Stock Exchange in 1999. The Helsinki Stock Exchange was
acquired by Nasdaq as part of our acquisition of OMX AB in
2008. The cooperative arrangement with Eurex fully ended
before Nasdaq learned of the EC's investigation.
In November 2025, the EC opened a formal antitrust
investigation to assess whether Nasdaq and Deutsche Börse
had breached European Union competition rules by
coordinating their conduct in the sector for listing, trading
and clearing of financial derivatives in the European
Economic Area.
We have been cooperating with the EC but are uncertain
about the duration or ultimate outcome of its review, or to the
extent there is any finding against us, the amount of any fines
or other remedies.
Other Matters
Except as disclosed above and in our prior reports filed under
the Exchange Act, we are not currently a party to any
litigation or proceeding that we believe could have a material
adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial
condition, or operating results. However, from time to time,
we have been threatened with, or named as a defendant in,
lawsuits or involved in regulatory proceedings.
In the normal course of business, Nasdaq discusses matters
with its regulators raised during regulatory examinations or
otherwise subject to their inquiries. Management believes
that censures, fines, penalties or other sanctions that could
result from any ongoing examinations or inquiries will not
have a material impact on our consolidated financial position
or results of operations. However, we are unable to predict
the outcome or the timing of the ultimate resolution of these
matters, or the potential fines, penalties or injunctive or other
equitable relief, if any, that may result from these matters.
Tax Audits
We are engaged in ongoing discussions and audits with
taxing authorities on various tax matters, the resolutions of
which are uncertain. Currently, there are matters that may
lead to assessments, some of which may not be resolved for
several years. Based on currently available information, we
believe we have adequately provided for any assessments that
could result from those proceedings where it is more likely
than not that we will be assessed. We review our positions on
these matters as they progress. See “Tax Audits,” of Note 16,
“Income Taxes,” for further discussion.