On 31 July 2019, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) published its final guidance on the types of cryptoassets that fall within the FCA’s current regulatory framework, clarifying the resulting obligations for firms and regulatory protections for consumers (“PS 19/22” or “the Policy Statement”).[1] The Policy Statement provides market participants welcome pointers as to … Continue Reading
On 3 July 2019, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) published its consultation paper on a proposed ban on the sale, marketing and distribution to retail clients of derivatives that reference certain types of cryptoassets (“CP 19/22”).[1] Background… Continue Reading
R. Raphael & Sons plc (Raphaels) has received fines totalling £1,887,252 from the FCA and PRA for repeated failings in relation to inadequate systems and controls supporting the oversight and governance of its outsourcing arrangements. Raphaels outsourced certain functions that supported payment services for its prepaid and charge card programmes in the UK and Europe to … Continue Reading
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced the launch of the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), an association of 29 regulatory bodies (Members) which will cooperate to promote innovation and share experiences and approaches to supervising new technologies in the financial services sector. The proposal to launch the GFIN was set out in a … Continue Reading
Last month (September 2018), the House of Commons Treasury Committee issued a report on its inquiry into the regulation of crypto-assets. The inquiry examined, amongst other subjects, the role of digital currencies in the UK; the impact of distributed ledger (blockchain) technology; and how these should be regulated. The report recommends improvements to consumer and anti-money … Continue Reading
On July 18, 2018, Acting Director Mick Mulvaney of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) announced that Paul Watkins will head the CFPB’s new Office of Innovation. According to the press release, the office, which Mulvaney created to focus on consumer-friendly innovation, “will focus on creating policies to facilitate innovation, engaging with entrepreneurs and regulators, … Continue Reading