March 5, 2019 @ 11:00 am By JD Alois  |  

A new report by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) states that if properly regulated, Fintech can “extend the benefits of financial inclusion to millions of unbanked and underbanked people around the world.” Fintech has the potential to provide enormous benefit for the less… Read More

February 28, 2019 @ 10:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last September, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a statement on their proposed regulatory sandbox – a concept trailblazed by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and since embraced by multiple regulators around the world. At the time of the earlier announcement, the CFPB… Read More

February 18, 2019 @ 9:16 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has applied to join the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN) as an observer. GFIN is a global Fintech Sandbox project orchestrated by the UK. GFIN claims a good number of global regulators – each looking to facilitate… Read More

January 21, 2019 @ 11:28 am By JD Alois  |  

A joint report by the European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Banking Authority (EBA), and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), addresses the topic of Fintech Sandboxes, the approach by regulators to partner with emerging Fintech firms by creating a safe place… Read More

January 21, 2019 @ 8:44 am By JD Alois  |  

Crypto Garage has accepted into the Japanese Financial Services Authority (FSA) Fintech Sandbox program. This is the first blockchain and finance project authorized by the Sandbox. The FSA announced the news in a release which was followed by a post by the parent company of… Read More

November 14, 2018 @ 10:30 am By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has proposed an expedited process for aspiring Fintechs participating in their regulatory Sandbox. First launched in 2016, the Singapore Fintech Sandbox seeks to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between innovator and regulator.  In an industry with profound compliance requirements, the regulator is exposed to entrepreneurs seeking to… Read More

July 4, 2018 @ 9:57 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) posted its next cohort of Fintech companies accepted into their regulatory sandbox and several blockchain based companies were on the list. BlockEx, a company that is launching a digital bond service on blockchain, was one of these companies.  BlockEx expects… Read More

July 4, 2018 @ 9:32 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the Financial Conduct Authority announced the next cohort of firms to be accepted into its Fintech Sandbox program. Within this group is a good number of crypto / blockchain. One of these firms, 20|30, will commence test initial coin offerings that will be equity… Read More

July 3, 2018 @ 8:39 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has posted the 29 firms that will be part of the fourth cohort of the Fintech sandbox. The UK was the trailblazing regulatory agency that first created an environment where innovative financial firms could safely experiment with new services… Read More

March 19, 2018 @ 10:04 am By JD Alois  |  

Christopher Woolard, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority  Executive Director of Strategy and Competition, delivered a keynote speech today at the Innovate Finance Global Summit. Woolard is the defender and champion of the vital competition mandate that has made the FCA a successful financial regulator.  Woolard… Read More

December 21, 2017 @ 10:17 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has announced that parties interested in establishing and operating an Alternative Trading System (ATS) in Malaysia can apply to participate in regulatory sandbox sessions under the SC’s FinTech Innovation Lab (aFINity – alliance of Fintech community). This follows the Budget… Read More

December 11, 2017 @ 10:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) had previously committed to review its regulatory sandbox and Fintech licensing exemption and upon review, officials have proposed to maintain the current status. The regulatory Fintech sandbox was introduced in December 2016 and enables eligible firms to test… Read More

October 26, 2017 @ 12:00 am By JD Alois  |  

The Australian Government has introduced a legislative framework for an “enhanced regulatory sandbox” to enable new Fintech products and services to be tested in Australia. The proposal is designed to extend the scope of activities beyond that of the regulatory sandbox launched by ASIC in… Read More

September 8, 2017 @ 1:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has publicly requested the creation of a Fintech Sandbox in his state. Brnovich published his belief in an OpEd for American Banker. Brnovich is of the opinion that Arizona should be the first state to create a Sandbox as it… Read More

August 8, 2017 @ 3:28 pm By JD Alois  |  

  Lithuania is the latest country joining the Fintech revolution by recognizing the importance of fostering a regulatory environment that is conducive to change and challenges established norms. The Bank of Lithuania is out with a statement regarding the launch of a sponsored Fintech Sandbox…. Read More

May 17, 2017 @ 4:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will embark on a “major Fintech initiative” with the creation of LabCFTC. The venture was launched to promote responsible Fintech innovation and to encourage competition in the markets the CFTC oversees. “Simply put, LabCFTC is intended to help… Read More

April 21, 2017 @ 3:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

This is a special time of the year in Washington, DC. It is the annual Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank meaning a diverse group of policymakers and regulators descend upon the US Capitol clogging restaurants and over-booking hotels. This also means there… Read More

April 10, 2017 @ 9:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

Christopher Woolard, Executive Director of Strategy and Competition at the FCA, delivered a Keynote address today at the Innovative Finance Global Summit 2017. Woolard, the FCA’s champion for competition and thus a champion for consumers, delivered an important message regarding their regulatory mission: “It is… Read More

April 10, 2017 @ 8:20 am By JD Alois  |  

Innovate Finance has published a “Sandbox Consultation Finding Preview in concert with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The release took place as Innovate Finance opened its Global Summit 2017. The FCA invited Innovate Finance , a public-private partnership seeking to boost Fintech innovation, to chair an… Read More

February 24, 2017 @ 5:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has launched a bespoke Fintech regulatory sandbox. The CSA described the Sandbox as an initiative that supports businesses seeking to offer innovative products, services, and applications. “The objective of this initiative is to facilitate the ability of those businesses to… Read More