August 23, 2019 @ 10:33 am By JD Alois  |  

Beginning September 14, 2019, European Union rules regarding “Strong Customer Authentication” (SCA), part of PSD2, kick in. These rules, which also impact the UK, involve the way in which banks or payment services providers verify their customers’ identity and validate specific payment instructions. Mandated API… Read More

August 8, 2019 @ 8:23 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

U.S. fintech Robinhood announced on Wednesday it received authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate as a broker in the UK. According to Robinhood, the authorization will enable us to bring its investing platform to customers in the UK and is a “critical… Read More

July 31, 2019 @ 8:52 am By JD Alois  |  

FCA: “any token that is not a security token, or an e-money token is an unregulated token.” The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its much anticipated final guidance on cryptoassets following a feedback period on prior commentary. The FCA has now established which… Read More

July 24, 2019 @ 11:40 am By JD Alois  |  

TokenMarket, a Fintech operating under the watchful eye of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Fintech Sandbox, has completed its first security token offering (STO) for equity in the firm. TokenMarket set an initial funding goal of £150,000 but had stated it would have accepted several… Read More

July 19, 2019 @ 11:53 am By JD Alois  |  

TokenMarket, part of the UK Financial Conduct Authority Sandbox program, is scheduled to close its own security token offering (STO) this coming Monday (July 22nd). TokenMarket launched its STO in early July seeking a max amount of £2 million. As it stands today, TokenMarket has… Read More

July 14, 2019 @ 9:02 am By JD Alois  |  

Earlier this month as previously reported, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposed a ban on the sale of both derivatives and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) based on “certain types of cryptoassets.” The announcement of the proposed ban kicked off a consultation, embedded below, for feedback… Read More

July 3, 2019 @ 9:12 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Prime Factor Capital, “an asset manager that specialises in cryptocurrencies,” has been licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the region’s financial regulator, to operate as a “full-scope” Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM). The London-based firm believes it is the first cryptocurrency fund to be so authorized…. Read More

July 3, 2019 @ 5:31 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed a ban on the sale of both derivatives and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) based on “certain types of cryptoassets.” This ban will impact retail investors. As part of the decision-making process, the FCA has commenced a public consultation… Read More

July 2, 2019 @ 2:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a speech presented today by Christopher Woolard, Executive Director of Strategy and Competition at the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the regulator addressed the hot topic of “stablecoins.” The speech was delivered at the annual Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance conference which saw regulators… Read More

June 26, 2019 @ 3:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently organized a workshop on assisting low-income renters. Predicated on the fact that rental insurance has “very low take-up” amongst a lower demographic, Treasury and the FCA invited multiple firms to attend an “Access to Contents Insurance… Read More

June 26, 2019 @ 3:26 am By JD Alois  |  

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Director of Competition Christopher Woolard testified before the House Financial Services Committee Fintech Task Force today. The other witnesses participating in the hearing included: Paul Watkins, Assistant Director, Office of Innovation, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Beth Knickerbocker, Chief Innovation Officer,… Read More

June 25, 2019 @ 2:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

While it is a fact we all need bank-like services it is also true we do not necessarily need a traditional bank. The digitization of finance has liberated the masses from paper driven, brick and mortar operations to the bank of the iPhone (or Android… Read More

June 10, 2019 @ 3:48 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

TokenMarket, a UK-based global investment platform, announced on Monday it has received approval from the FCA to run its Security Token Offering (STO) in the regulatory sandbox. According to TokenMarket, the offering is being conducted under existing UK crowdfunding rules, allow for up to €8 million… Read More

June 10, 2019 @ 1:03 am By JD Alois  |  

Last week, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) updated the regulatory regime managing the peer to peer lending industry. Overall, the P2P sector saw more rules that increased oversight including a cap on retail investment. Initial comments regarding the rules have been mixed with some… Read More

June 5, 2019 @ 9:13 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) have signed a formal agreement to work more closely together as financial services firms look to maintain a foothold in continental Europe. The FCA states that since the UK announced its… Read More

June 5, 2019 @ 8:53 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that Baroness Zahida Manzoor CBE has been appointed Chair of the Financial Ombudsman Service. Baroness Manzoor will step into the role in August taking over from Sir Nicholas Montagu who is stepping down after more than seven years in… Read More

June 4, 2019 @ 10:16 am By JD Alois  |  

Julia Groves, Partner and Head of Digital at investment platform, Downing LLP and long-time UK Crowdfunding Association Director, issued a statement on updated rules for loan and investment-based crowdfunding revealed by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today. Groves was complimentary of the new rules… Read More

June 4, 2019 @ 7:52 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a long-anticipated update to crowdfunding rules. More specifically, the FCA has “enhanced” aspects of investor protection for investors participating in peer to peer lending (P2P). Rules for investment crowdfunding, on the other hand, came out largely unchanged…. Read More

June 3, 2019 @ 2:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Peer to peer lender Lendy is no more. On May 24, the online lender went into administration. According to the Lendy website: The administrators are working closely with the FCA who consented to their appointment over the Companies. This website will be used to provide… Read More

May 21, 2019 @ 2:01 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a report addressing frauds and scams in the cryptocurrency and Forex sector. According to the FCA, over £27 million has been lost from these scams during the 2018/2019 period. Reports of scams topped 1,800 – 3X versus… Read More