Outside the US, few fintechs achieve unicorn status without international growth; navigating regulatory licensing is key to unlocking new markets and achieving billion-dollar valuations.

In FintechXpndr’s latest blog post, we explore how neo-banks use licensing to (1) Expand their Total Addressable Market; (2) Build investor trust by showcasing regulatory competence; (3) Drive product and service innovation.

Today’s £62 million fine imposed on Citi by the PRA and FCA underscores the real cost of inadequate risk management systems. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident; significant fines have been levied on most major financial institutions for similar failings in risk management and controls.

As the UK Car Finance Discretionary Commission Scandal unfolds, Car Dealers, Car Finance Firms and Motor Finance Credit Brokers find themselves at the epicentre of potentially substantial financial exposure.

This guide helps Car Dealers and Car Finance Firms understand the background to the Car Finance Discretionary Commission Scandal and what they need to do to mitigate the impact on their business.

FintechXpndr helps fintechs expand internationally. For firms expanding overseas, we offer a one-stop shop for strategy, regulatory licensing, company incorporation, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and company directors. For regulated firms already operating in one of our core jurisdictions, we offer an outsourced compliance and risk management service, enabling firms to focus on their core business, while we take care of the rest.

The EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation paves the way for the rapid growth of the European market in crypto and digital assets.

While MiCA applies to a broad spectrum of market participants, existing investment firms established in the EU hold a distinct advantage when it comes to compliance. This blog explains why.

Now is the ideal time for successful FinTechs to take the global stage – Braithwate explains why.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but the current FinTech market downturn presents an ideal opportunity for astute FinTechs to expand their market presence.

Braithwate’s analysis of the FCA’s CP23/13 on Stronger Protections for Borrowers in Financial Difficulty.

These new rules represent a ratcheting up of the FCA’s expectations of how firms support customers in financial difficulty, adding another layer to firms’ Consumer Duty initiatives to enhance their arrears and vulnerable customer processes.

This blog reviews the key considerations for a consumer credit firm.

The SEC provided additional guidance on how its proposed changes to the definition of an “Exchange” will apply to crypto and DeFi;

The House Committee on Financial Services published draft legislation for payment stablecoin issuers, building on legislative proposals which have circulated over the past year; and

The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation reaches the final stage of the legislative journey and will be approved by the Parliament this coming week.

This blog provides a summary of each of these initiatives and concludes with Braithwate’s perspective on what this means for the future of digital assets and crypto businesses.

Heads up for all Payment Services and E-Money firms: the Financial Conduct Authority is concerned about governance and risk management.

Braithwate is delighted to see the UK-Singapore FinTech Bridge established to promote collaboration between the FinTech sectors to the two countries.

With the breadth of regulatory requirements firms face today, it is essential that staff understand their obligations as participants in the world of financial services. Braithwate has partnered with leading e-learning provider, Skillcast®, to offer a comprehensive library of self-paced online compliance training courses.

The next 12 months looks likely to deliver an avalanche of new regulatory requirements; we see this as a positive step for the industry, recognising the increasing importance of digital assets and providing clarity for users and firms.

BRAITHWATE IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE ITS STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH HOLISTIC AI TO HELP FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRMS ADDRESS CHALLENGES POSED BY THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI).

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER ON ENSURING RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL ASSETS SAYS NOTHING AND EVERYTHING: NO SPECIFIC POLICIES WERE ANNOUNCED, HOWEVER, READING BETWEEN THE LINES, THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL IS CLEAR.

The BlockFi settlement with the SEC is a significant step in the development of US crypto regulation. This blog analyses the impact on the broader crypto market.

Braithwate assesses the potential implications of the FCA’s proposed Consumer Duty.

Braithwate + Change Gap are working with Deutsche Bank to develop an open source data standard for a taxonomy and ontology to classify financial regulation. Learn more at the Open Source Strategy Forum on Tuesday 5th October.

Financial regulators around the world collect troves of data from financial institutions. Opening this up to the public offers an opportunity to improve financial services. Read more in our Op Ed in Financial News.

We’re excited to open the doors to Braithwate’s new office in London. As specialist advisers in financial services, there really was only one place for us to be - in the heart of the city.

Braithwate launches Office Hours - free weekly consultation sessions to help the financial services community better understand and respond to evolving regulatory requirements and market dynamics. Book your consultation online now!