CFTC and Monetary Authority of Singapore Sign FinTech Collaboration Agreement

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today signed a cooperation arrangement on FinTech innovation, which is to be supported by the agencies’ respective FinTech initiatives, LabCFTC and the MAS Financial Technology & Innovation Group.  The arrangement will facilitate inter-agency cooperation on FinTech innovation and referrals for innovators that wish to enter the other regulator’s market.  In addition, it will provide an information sharing framework between the agencies focused on FinTech market trends and developments, innovations and best practices within their respective jurisdictions.  The arrangement also calls for joint events, proofs of concept, trials and innovation competitions where permitted, along with periodic meetings to discuss FinTech issues of common interest.

CFTC Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo in a statement said that he believes this collaboration with the MAS will “enhance global awareness of the critical role of regulators in 21^st century digital markets,” while Ravi Menon, Managing Director of the MAS, said that he hopes the arrangement will “create more opportunities for firms in both jurisdictions, especially in developing innovative business models for the derivatives market.”

The arrangement follows a similar agreement reached by the CFTC and the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority this past February, and reflects the global nature of FinTech markets and the importance of cross-border collaboration between regulators.