Digital Finance

Platform Overview

Digital finance is one of the fastest-moving areas of FCA regulation. From payment firms and e-money institutions to virtual asset service providers and embedded finance platforms, the regulatory landscape is evolving continuously and the stakes for getting compliance wrong have never been higher. For international digital finance firms entering the UK market, the FCA's expectations around safeguarding, AML, governance, and capital adequacy require early and thorough preparation. ComplyWorks guides digital finance firms through FCA authorisation from readiness assessment to post-authorisation compliance.

As a UK based regulatory and compliance advisory firm,

we specialise in supporting international digital finance companies seeking UK market access. We guide firms through FCA authorisation and registration, helping them structure their operating models, customer journeys, safeguarding arrangements, and AML/CTF controls in line with UK regulatory requirements.

01.

SERVICES

Our services are designed specifically for digital first businesses, including payment and e-money institutions, crypto and virtual asset firms, open banking and API-driven platforms, and digital money service providers.

02.

FOCUS

We deliver end to end support from regulatory strategy and application preparation to ongoing compliance oversight, regulatory reporting, and change management.

03.

EXPERTISE

By combining deep UK regulatory expertise with an understanding of international operating models, we help investment firms enter the UK efficiently, engage confidently with regulators, and build compliant, scalable platforms that support long-term growth and investor confidence.

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions firms ask us most often before starting a UK regulatory process.

Yes. Cryptoasset businesses carrying on relevant activity in or from the UK must register with the FCA under the Money Laundering Regulations. Registration is assessed on the strength of your AML and financial crime systems, governance, and the fitness and propriety of senior management.

The FCA has reported that the large majority of cryptoasset registration applications have been rejected or withdrawn rather than approved. The common failures are financial crime controls that exist on paper but not in practice, unclear ownership and group structures, and senior management without demonstrable experience of operating under UK regulation.

The UK is moving from the current registration-only regime to full authorisation for cryptoasset firms. Under the published FCA timetable the authorisation gateway opens on 30 September 2026, with the initial submission window closing on 28 February 2027. Firms should plan on the assumption that the evidential bar is higher than registration.

An authorised electronic money institution can issue and redeem e-money and hold customer funds as stored value, and may also provide payment services. A payment institution can only execute payment services and cannot issue stored value. E-money firms face higher initial capital requirements and a wider safeguarding obligation.

Firms must protect relevant customer funds so they are returnable if the firm fails, using segregation or an insurance or guarantee alternative under the Payment Services Regulations and Electronic Money Regulations. The FCA has strengthened its expectations on reconciliation, record keeping and governance, and treats safeguarding failures as a serious supervisory issue.