Regulators officially launch Global Financial Innovation Network

It followed on from February 2018, and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) proposal to create a global sandbox.

GFIN has expanded to a network of 29 organisations committed to supporting financial innovation in the interests of consumers.

One plan includes a pilot for companies wishing to test products, services or business models across more than one jurisdiction.

Companies wishing to participate in this pilot phase must meet the application requirements of all the jurisdictions in which they would like to test.

For example, a company wishing to test in the UK, Australia and Hong Kong must independently meet the eligibility criteria, and/or other relevant standards, of the regulators in those jurisdictions.

Pilot tests will run for a six-month period, unless regulators agree to extend them. The FCA expects the pilots will run from Q2 2019.

GFIN’s members include Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in the US, Bank of Lithuania, South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) in the UAE, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank Group.