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On 8 May 2025, during the Caixin Media’s London Atlantic Dialogue, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (UK FCA) and the People’s Republic of China took a significant step towards regulatory convergence by unveiling a new legal architecture for cross-border financial cooperation. In a speech delivered by UK FCA Chair Ashley Alder, both jurisdictions signalled their strategic intent to strengthen bilateral ties through a forthcoming Memorandum of Understanding with China’s National Financial Regulatory Administration, the development of a China-UK Wealth Connect platform, and coordinated action on green finance disclosures aligned with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Set against the backdrop of increasing global regulatory fragmentation and demographic-driven pension reform, it is a decisive pivot towards legally structured, trust-based financial integration between two of the world’s most systemically important economies. Legal Instruments and...

On 1 April 2025, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) formally implemented a major structural reorganisation aimed at strengthening its integrated supervisory capacity across the banking, insurance, and asset management sectors. As announced in its official press release, FINMA’s new organisational framework includes the creation of a dedicated cross-divisional risk unit, the consolidation of oversight divisions, and the elevation of digital and policy functions—effective from 01 April 2025. FINMA’s structural revamp is anchored in its objective to deliver more intensive, direct, and forward-looking supervision in response to increasing risks such as money laundering, cybercrime, sustainability exposure, and liquidity pressure. The measures are designed to support preventive, proportionate regulation, enhance in-house expertise, and streamline its policy and operational coordination. FINMA’s Creation of “Integrated Risk Expertise” Division (GB-I) A new...

On 29 April 2025, the United Kingdom, taking forward its crypto roadmap, published a series of regulatory and policy framework to formally regulate cryptoasset activities under its principal financial legislation, the United Kingdom Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). In a coordinated regulatory release, HM Treasury laid before Parliament a draft statutory instrument, accompanied by an interpretive policy note, while the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (UK FCA) followed with a detailed discussion paper. These instruments establish the UK's first fully integrated, activity-based crypto regulatory regime, ensuring that crypto services such as custody, trading platforms, lending, stablecoin issuance, and staking will now fall within the UK FSMA perimeter. The reforms are set out across three official documents: the United Kingdom Draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Cryptoassets) Order 2025, published...

On 6 May 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC), via Investment Company Act Release No. 35571, through an order granted a conditional exemption to Monroe Capital BDC Advisors, LLC, Monroe Capital Income Plus Corporation, and Monroe Capital Enhanced Corporate Lending Fund, allowing the issuance of multiple classes of shares with differing fee structures. Acting under its authority pursuant to Section 6(c) of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, US SEC approved the applicants’ request for relief from Sections 18(a)(2), 18(c), 18(i), and 61(a) of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940. These sections govern capital structure limitations and shareholder equality provisions applicable to business development companies and closed-end investment companies. The exemption permits the applicants to issue multiple share classes with distinct sales loads and asset-based distribution or service fees, a structure traditionally not available to...

On 5 May 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) published an ‘Order for cancellation of registrations’ under United States Investment Advisers Act Release No. 6878, cancelling the registration of multiple investment advisers pursuant to Section 203(h) of the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The action was taken against firms that have ceased operations as investment advisers or failed to file required updates through the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD), as mandated under US SEC Rule 204-1. In exercise of its statutory powers under Section 203(h), the US SEC has the power and authority to cancel the registration of any investment adviser that is no longer in business or is otherwise not eligible to remain registered, to protect the integrity of the national investment advisory registry and ensure that only active and compliant advisers operate within the United States financial system. The following investment adviser...

On 5 May 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) published an ‘order instituting proceedings’ to determine whether to approve or disapprove a proposed rule change submitted by the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC to list and trade shares of the Canary Litecoin ETF under Nasdaq Rule 5711(d), governing Commodity-Based Trust Shares. The application, originally filed on 15 January 2025, proposes that the ETF will track the market price of Litecoin (LTC) through the CoinDesk Litecoin Price Index (LTX) and hold LTC as its sole underlying asset, alongside cash. According to the proposal, the Litecoin ETF is sponsored by Canary Capital Group LLC and administered by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC and purportedly it will allow investors to gain regulated exposure to the price performance of Litecoin without directly acquiring or custodying the digital asset. The Litecoin will be securely custodied by BitGo Trust Company, Inc. and Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC. The...

On 6 May 2025, with the aim to enhance global regulatory alignment and promote Hong Kong in virtual asset oversight, senior executives from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (HK SFC) concluded a visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai last week. The delegation was led by Dr. Eric Yip, Executive Director of Intermediaries, and Ms. Elizabeth Wong, Director of Intermediaries & Head of the Fintech Unit. During the visit, the HK SFC delegation held bilateral discussions with regulatory counterparts of UAE, including the Securities and Commodities Authority of the United Arab Emirates, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority of Dubai. These meetings focused on evolving approaches to virtual asset regulation, licensing, and supervisory practices in line with the SFC’s ASPIRe roadmap, released on 19 February 2025. Dr. Yip discussed the HK SFC's approach has been...

On 5 May 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) announced a rescheduling of its upcoming Crypto Task Force roundtable on decentralised finance (DeFi). Originally slated for 06 June 2025, the roundtable titled “DeFi and the American Spirit” will now be held on 09 June 2025. The Commission confirmed that all prior registrations remain valid for the new date. This roundtable is part of the US SEC’s ongoing efforts to examine the regulatory treatment of decentralised protocols and platforms through its United States Crypto Task Force public dialogue series. The event is expected to address core questions concerning how DeFi aligns with, or, challenges the existing US legal frameworks, particularly in relation to investor protection, disclosure obligations, and federalism in financial innovation. The Commission has encouraged new registrants to continue applying via the official portal. Additional logistical details, agenda updates, and panelist lists will be...

On 5 May 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) published the ‘full agenda and list of panelists’ for its upcoming public roundtable titled “Tokenisation — Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet.” The event is scheduled for 12 May 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET and will take place at the Commission’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The roundtable forms part of the US SEC Crypto Task Force’s broader engagement with industry, academia, and technology leaders on regulatory implications in emerging crypto asset markets. Led by Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, the event is expected to explore how tokenisation is reshaping capital formation and institutional access to digital assets. Commissioner Peirce stated: “Tokenisation is a technological development that could substantially change many aspects of our financial markets, I look forward to hearing ideas from our panelists on how the SEC should approach this area.” The roundtable will open with...

On 5 May 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) published a notice of proposed rule change filed by Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc., initiating the public comment process regarding the potential listing and trading of two leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) i.e. the 2x Long VIX Futures ETF (UVIX) and the -1x Short VIX Futures ETF (SVIX). Released as Exchange Act Release No. 34–102991, the notice pertains to amendments submitted pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 19b-4 thereunder. At this stage, the US SEC has not approved the proposal but is instead soliciting comments from interested parties to assess whether the rule change meets statutory standards for fairness, investor protection, and market integrity. The proposed rule change seeks to permit the listing of UVIX and SVIX as series of the 2X Futures Access ETF Trust. Sponsored by Volatility Shares LLC, these products are structured to offer daily...

On 29 April 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer of United Kingdom confirmed the appointment of four new non-executive directors to the Board of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (UK FCA): Professor Julia Black, Anita Kimber, John Ball, and Stéphane Malrait. The announcement also includes a one-year term extension for current Board member Richard Lloyd, ensuring continuity and seasoned leadership as the UK FCA implements its five-year strategy for market resilience, innovation, and regulatory agility. Professor Julia Black, a former external member of the Prudential Regulation Committee, will assume her position as non-executive director on 12 May 2025 for an initial three-year term. She brings deep expertise in regulatory design and governance, particularly in complex financial systems. Joining her on the same day is Anita Kimber, an accomplished former partner at EY with prior leadership roles at PwC and IBM, known for her cross-sectoral insight into financial...

On 05 May 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) issued a notice (Investment Company Act Release No. 35567; File No. 812-15759) concerning a joint application submitted by a suite of Blackstone-affiliated funds and advisory entities. The applicants are seeking an exemptive order under Sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, and US SEC Rule 17d-1 thereunder, to permit joint participation in investment opportunities that would otherwise be prohibited as affiliated transactions. The application was originally filed on 14 March 2025 and subsequently amended on 11 April and 24 April 2025. The core of the request lies in enabling certain business development companies (BDCs) and closed-end management investment companies, managed or advised by Blackstone entities, to co-invest alongside affiliated investment vehicles. This structure, while commercially aligned with market efficiencies, requires prior regulatory relief due...