The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data privacy regulation in the European Union (EU) that went into effect on May 25, 2018. SHA-256 and other hash functions play a crucial role in helping organizations comply with GDPR requirements, particularly in protecting the personal data of EU citizens, including financial information.

GDPR requirements that SHA-256 helps meet include:

1. Data protection by design and default

2. Data minimization and pseudonymization

3. Data subject rights (e.g., access, rectification, erasure)

4. Data breach notification

5. Data protection impact assessment (DPIA)

6. Cross-border data transfers

SHA-256 helps achieve these goals by:

1. Ensuring data integrity and authenticity

2. Protecting personal data from unauthorized access and breaches

3. Supporting data minimization and pseudonymization

4. Facilitating data subject rights

5. Enabling secure data breach notification

6. Supporting DPIA and cross-border data transfers

By using SHA-256 and other hash functions, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to protecting the personal data of EU citizens, including financial information, and ensure compliance with GDPR requirements.