On 27 January 2026 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched the Mills Review to examine the long-term impact of AI on financial services. Led by Sheldon Mills, this initiative invites industry feedback to help shape how AI might transform consumer experiences, market structures, and regulatory approaches in retail financial services. The call for input closes on 24 February, following which Mills will present recommendations to the FCA board in the summer, culminating in an external publication to foster informed debate.

On 4 February 2024, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 were made, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptoassets in the UK. Under this new regime, cryptoasset firms falling within scope will be subject to regulatory requirements, including, where relevant, authorisation by the FCA. The Cryptoassets Regulations define the categories of cryptoassets and activities subject to regulation, expand the scope of the financial promotions regime to align with the new regulated activities, and make provision for rules relating to market abuse and public offers. The new regime will take effect on 25 October 2027, with the authorisation gateway opening in September 2026. UK cryptoasset firms should review their current and planned activities to determine if they fall within the scope of the new regime, and those seeking authorisation should start engaging with the process now to ensure they are prepared to move quickly once the gateway opens.

The European Supervisory Authorities are preparing to designate critical third-party service providers under the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). DORA, which came into force on 17 January 2025, enables the ESAs to designate key ICT providers to the EU financial services sector as critical, subjecting them to direct supervisory and oversight obligations. The ESAs have recently published a roadmap indicating their expected timeline for designations – with the final designations expected to be in place by the end of this year.

On 13 February 2024, the FCA issued a Final Notice to Floris Jakobus Huisamen, the former director and compliance officer of London Capital & Finance plc (LCF), fining him GBP 31,800 and banning him from working in financial services in relation to misconduct connected to financial promotions issued by LCF. This Final Notice follows the FCA’s previous censure of LCF in October 2023 for connected behaviour. In this alert we draw out the key takeaways that compliance officers should bear in mind from the FCA’s enforcement action.

On 13 February 2024, the FCA issued a Final Notice to Floris Jakobus Huisamen, the former director and compliance officer of London Capital & Finance plc (LCF), fining him GBP 31,800 and banning him from working in financial services in relation to misconduct connected to financial promotions issued by LCF. This Final Notice follows the FCA’s previous censure of LCF in October 2023 for connected behaviour. In this alert we draw out the key takeaways that compliance officers should bear in mind from the FCA’s enforcement action.

We are pleased to share with you our annual briefing looking at financial services regulation and enforcement in 2024, “What does 2024 hold? Key upcoming developments and enforcement trends”.

With Brexit and the pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, and the geopolitical ebb-and-flow settling into a somewhat more stable – if preciously perched – pattern, regulators around the world have turned their attention to less reactive, more forward-looking actions. Our London Financial Institutions Regulatory and Enforcement experts explore the key developments and trends expected to dominate the regulatory landscape this year.

The EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) aims to promote, improve and ensure operational resilience within the financial services sector. It comes into effect on 17 January 2025. Last month, six months into the two-year implementation period, the European Supervisory Authorities published a consultation package regarding the first batch of certain draft regulatory technical standards and draft implementing technical standards on certain aspects of DORA.

The speed and volume of change in the crypto asset markets has accelerated across the globe, with established financial institutions increasingly entering the sector whilst regulators look to keep pace. Recent high-profile developments and market volatility have led to growing calls for scrutiny and regulatory controls. Navigating this fast paced environment, within a sometimes disjointed regulatory framework, can be challenging.
This virtual seminar series will provide insights on how the regulatory landscape is changing and discuss the future of crypto within the financial services sector. Set out below are details of our 2022 series.

Regulators and policymakers have left emergency measures behind and returned to their reform agendas. In this piece, Baker McKenzie regulatory experts set out the top ten UK developments for financial institutions and fintechs to watch in 2022 covering: good culture, Consumer Duty, BNPL regulation, crypto regulation, AML regulation, appointed representatives regime, financial promotions gateway, operational resilience, ESG regulation, divergence, Future Regulatory Framework Review.

On 21 October 2021, HM Treasury published its much-anticipated consultation on the regulation of buy-now-pay-later products. The consultation arrives nearly seven months after the Treasury confirmed that it would formally consult on bringing BNPL products into the regulatory perimeter “as a matter of priority”.