Archives

March 25, 2025 @ 9:40 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed its five-year plan, which will focus on four priorities. The FCA is a unique regulator as it holds a competition mandate: it must enable competition. Otherwise, the regulator pursues consumer protection and market integrity. Since 2023, the… Read More

March 18, 2025 @ 9:38 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has closed on a consultation that discusses changes to public offers and admissions to trading in the UK. Policymakers are looking to improve securities markets in the UK – both public and private. Any updates aim to support capital… Read More

March 14, 2025 @ 8:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

MorganAsh recently hosted a webinar featuring Jess Trueman, Head of Business Development at Smart Money People, alongside James Edmond and Martin Grimwood, to explore how businesses can enhance their board reporting on vulnerable customer data under the Consumer Duty framework. The discussion centered on aligning… Read More

March 13, 2025 @ 4:56 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant policy reversal, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has scrapped its controversial proposal to routinely “name and shame” firms under investigation. In the US, it is common for regulators to name the firms or individuals under investigation. If a case is settled… Read More

March 12, 2025 @ 10:43 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Payment Systems Regulator (PSR)will be shuttered by the UK government. The move is described as reducing “red tape” or “unnecessary regulation” to improve growth by reducing the burdens ladled upon businesses. The PSR oversees payment systems like card rails. Its responsibilities will be… Read More

March 12, 2025 @ 8:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is stepping up efforts to address the relatively slow adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the banking sector, citing concerns that overly aggressive regulatory requirements may be stifling innovation. In a move to tackle this pressing issue, the FCA… Read More

February 19, 2025 @ 1:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

VC math, or valuations of private firms, has long been more of an art than a science. The friction between investors and firms raising capital is well known. Too low, and money is left on the table. Too high and a future down round, or… Read More

February 19, 2025 @ 12:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct  Authority (FCA) and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) have published a statement on the rise and usage of digital wallets. The two regulators note that the use of digital wallets has grown in recent years, with card transactions using a digital wallet… Read More

January 31, 2025 @ 11:27 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is pursuing rules that aim to make it easier for listed companies to issue bonds and investors, including smaller ones, to invest in these assets. The FCA explains that it would like to encourage listed firms to issue bonds… Read More

November 27, 2024 @ 10:56 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK initially expected to reveal new rules to manage the burgeoning stablecoin sector of digital assets this year. In recent days, the UK government revealed that stablecoin rules were being pushed back until 2025, but the change will incorporate broader regulations that will enable… Read More

November 22, 2024 @ 8:46 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have jointly published a report indicating that 75% of financial firms already use artificial intelligence (AI). AI rocketed to public perception following the release of ChatGPT. Consumer development of AI fueled a need for all… Read More

November 12, 2024 @ 9:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has reportedly fined Metro Bank PLC £16,675,200. The FCA noted that between the timeframe of June 2016 and December 2020, Metro Bank had allegedly failed to have the “right systems and controls” in order to adequately monitor over 60m… Read More

November 1, 2024 @ 4:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

Earlier this year, CI reported on a consultation in the UK on Public Offer platforms [POP]. This is part of an initiative to improve the capital-raising environment for firms in the UK. Currently, in the UK, issuers typically are capped at pursuing online securities offering… Read More

October 23, 2024 @ 10:57 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is intensifying its efforts to curb illegal activities by financial influencers, commonly known as “finfluencers“, who may be promoting financial services unlawfully. As part of a targeted crackdown, the regulator has issued 38 alerts against social media accounts run by… Read More

October 22, 2024 @ 11:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently shared a comprehensive update on crypto-asset registrations processes, which are said to be focused on building strong foundations. The FCA noted in its extensive update that quite often, they are asked about the number of companies they… Read More

October 15, 2024 @ 9:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined TSB Bank plc (TSB) £10.9 million over the “treatment” of customers in financial difficulty. The FCA leveled the penalty on the bank for allegedly failing to ensure customers in arrears were “treated fairly.” The FCA further noted that… Read More

October 3, 2024 @ 10:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Starling Bank confirms that it fully accepts the findings set out in the Final Notice published today by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This reportedly resolves the investigation referred to in Starling Bank’s annual report in June 2024. Starling notes in a release that it… Read More

September 30, 2024 @ 12:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS) is now open for applications. Digital securities, or tokenized assets, are widely believed to be the future of the securities sector. While anticipation of the migration to digital from more analog issuance and trading of securities has been predicted for… Read More

September 25, 2024 @ 12:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) intends to launch a market study into how pure protection insurance products are sold following concerns that competition is not working well in the market. The study will be launched later in 2024/25. Pure protection products are designed “to… Read More

September 13, 2024 @ 8:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has charged Mr Olumide Osunkoya, who is 45 and resides in London, for “unlawfully running multiple crypto ATMs without FCA registration.” Crypto ATMs are machines that “allow you to buy or convert money into cryptoassets.” Mr Osunkoya is accused of running… Read More