The first half of 2025 brought significant developments in the regulation of digital and cryptoassets in the UK and EU. In this half-year update, we review these and look ahead to likely developments in the UK and EU in the...more
7/9/2025
/ Banking Sector ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
EU ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FinTech ,
HM Treasury ,
Technology ,
UK
The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) has now been in full effect for six months. This landmark piece of legislation, which is designed to create a harmonized regulatory framework for cryptoassets across the EU,...more
Published concurrently with Consultation Paper 25/14 (CP 25/14) on the proposals for stablecoin issuance and cryptoasset custody in the UK, Consultation Paper 25/15 (CP 25/15) sets out the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s...more
Following the publication by HM Treasury of the draft legislation establishing a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets in the UK, on 28 May 2025 the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Consultation...more
6/6/2025
/ Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
HM Treasury ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Stablecoins ,
UK
On 20 May 2025, the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) published a policy statement (PS6/25) on business conducted within branches of international banks operating in the UK, as well as its booking model expectations...more
5/28/2025
/ Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
New Regulations ,
Policy Updates ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
UK
A welcome wind of regulatory change is noticeable in Germany. On May 20, 2025, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) published a consultation on a draft ordinance to amend the ownership control ordinance and the...more
In October 2024, HM Treasury (HMT) published a consultation paper amid perceived concerns related to the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) sector, including uninformed consumer decisions, affordability checks and levels of...more
Is payment to an intermediary, not by its client but by the financial service provider, an illegal inducement or a legitimate distribution cost?
In Hopcraft, the UK Supreme Court will consider this perennial question. The...more
5/22/2025
/ Bribery ,
Competition ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Insurance Industry ,
Insurance Litigation ,
Lenders ,
Popular ,
Remuneration ,
UK
On 9 May 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued policy statement PS 25/4, setting out, and bringing into force, final rules on investment research payment options for fund managers.
The new rules follow the...more
As part of the UK government’s aim to create legislation establishing a regulatory framework for cryptoassets, on 2 May 2025 the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Discussion Paper DP25/1....more
On 7 April 2025, the United Kingdom’s HM Treasury opened a consultation (the Consultation) on proposals to streamline the regulatory framework for alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs). Alongside the Consultation, the...more
5/8/2025
/ Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
HM Treasury ,
Investment ,
Investment Funds ,
Investment Management ,
Private Equity ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
UK
Since December 2024, cryptoassets and related services are regulated in the European Union by the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Although the regulation provides a comprehensive set of rules for issuers of...more
5/5/2025
/ Blockchain ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
EU ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
FinTech ,
Investment Management ,
MiFID II ,
Regulatory Requirements
The first four months of 2025 proved busy for the UK’s financial regulators, with both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) publishing their strategy and business plan documents. As...more
5/5/2025
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Cryptoassets ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Insurance Industry ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Risk Management ,
UK ,
White Collar Crimes
On 29 April 2025, HM Treasury published near-final draft legislation establishing a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets in the UK, along with a policy note explaining the intended policy outcomes of the...more
We are pleased to present “The Capital Ratio,” a new podcast that explores key regulatory topics impacting the banking and financial sector. In our debut episode, we dive into the key regulatory considerations for U.K. and...more
As the market for stablecoins continues to evolve in sophistication and scale, financial institutions in the UK and EU are increasingly exploring whether and how to engage with them, whether for treasury, payments, settlement...more
3/20/2025
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Banking Sector ,
Digital Assets ,
E-Money ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Investment Management ,
Popular ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Risk Management ,
Stablecoins ,
Technology Sector ,
UK
On 11 March 2025, the UK government announced its decision to abolish the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) as part of a broader initiative to reduce regulatory burdens and stimulate economic growth.
This action is intended to...more
3/14/2025
/ Bank of England ,
Banking Sector ,
Competition ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
Payment Systems ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Small Business ,
UK ,
UK Payment Systems Regulator
On 5 March 2025, the FCA published its findings from its multi-firm assessment of governance and valuation practices within the private market sector (Review) along with a press release. The Review focused on firms operating...more
In February 2025, Camille Blackburn, director at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), set out the FCA’s current supervisory priorities for the asset management and alternatives sector (Sector) in a “Dear CEO”...more
3/5/2025
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Asset Management ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Investment ,
Investment Management ,
Private Equity ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management
On 25 February 2025, Sarah Pritchard, executive director of consumers, competition, and international at the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), delivered a speech at the Investment Association Roundtable where she outlined...more
3/3/2025
/ Banking Sector ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Hedge Funds ,
Investment ,
Investment Management ,
Market Participants ,
Non-Bank Lenders ,
Private Equity ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
UK
On 12 February 2025, the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) issued a policy statement on streamlining firm-specific capital communications (the Policy Statement). The statement finalises policy that was the subject of a...more
On 5 February 2025, Skadden hosted a series of panel discussions looking at the evolving EU, UK and US crypto-asset landscape... The discussion explored how market participants and investors can best anticipate and prepare...more
2/13/2025
/ AML/CFT ,
Blockchain ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
EU ,
Financial Crimes ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
FinTech ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Sanctions ,
UK
On 21 January 2025, the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) published two supervisory letters outlining 2025 priorities for international banks and UK deposit takers, respectively. In this note, we look at some of the...more
2/3/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Basel III ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
International Banks ,
Lenders ,
Liquidity ,
Non-Bank Lenders ,
Private Equity ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Risk Management ,
UK
On 1 November 2024, the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a joint policy statement (PS 18/24) on the prudential assessment of acquisitions and increases in control. The...more
1/27/2025
/ Acquisitions ,
Banking Sector ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Investment Funds ,
Limited Partnerships ,
Mergers ,
New Guidance ,
New Regulations ,
Private Equity ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
UK
In the aftermath of the 2007-09 global financial crisis, the G20 nations committed to reforming bank remuneration frameworks in response to criticism that excessive risk-taking at banks incentivised by poorly structured pay...more
1/23/2025
/ Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Corporate Governance ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FSB ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Remuneration ,
Risk Management ,
UK