CFTC and FCA Agree to Collaborate on Regulating FinTech Innovation

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Financial Conduct Authority have signed a Cooperation Arrangement on Financial Technology Innovation, an arrangement that commits both regulators to collaborating and fostering innovation through their respective FinTech initiatives, LabCFTC and FCA Innovate. This is the CFTC's first agreement of its kind with a non-U.S. counterpart and the FCA's first such agreement with a U.S. regulator. The arrangement will focus on information-sharing based on FinTech market trends and developments in each jurisdiction, simplify the referral process for FinTech companies interested in entering the other's market and facilitate sharing insight gained from each regulator's relevant sandbox, proof of concept or innovation competitions.

CFTC Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo in a statement said he believes this collaboration will allow the CFTC to contribute to the growing role of regulators in new technology markets, and FCA Chairman Andrew Bailey argued that international borders should not inhibit global technological innovation. Chairman Bailey also announced an upcoming joint event between the CFTC and FCA in London to demonstrate how firms can work and engage with both regulators in the FinTech space.