The UK is strengthening international collaboration on financial regulation, with the launch of a UK-US Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future and the fourth Joint EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum held on 1 October 2025. These initiatives reflect a strategic push to streamline cross-border capital flows, harmonise cryptoasset oversight and address shared challenges in banking, capital markets, digital finance and sustainable finance.
Backed by HM Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and counterparts in the US and EU, the efforts aim to reduce regulatory duplication, enhance market integrity, and foster innovation while upholding financial stability and consumer protection. Amid evolving global risks, these forums underscore the UK’s post-Brexit commitment to global leadership in financial services.
Key Developments
- UK-US Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future
Announced in late 2025, the Taskforce is focused on reducing barriers to transatlantic fundraising and modernising wholesale digital markets. Key areas include:
- Streamlining cross-border capital raising for banks and corporates, tackling duplicative requirements in deal structures.
- Regulatory treatment of cryptoassets, tokenisation and digital innovations to support custody, trading and advisory services.
- Recommendations expected within 180 days on immediate efficiencies and long-term reforms to secondary listings, settlement processes and capital structures.
This bilateral effort aims to preserve London and New York’s dominance as global financial hubs through seamless capital flows and coordinated digital infrastructure.
- Joint EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum Outcomes
The latest Joint Financial Regulatory Forum meeting in Brussels addressed priority areas, each with actionable regulatory insights:
- Macro-Economic and Financial Stability;
- Banking reform implementation and resolution frameworks;
- Capital Markets and T+1 settlement coordination set to be implemented by 11 October 2027;
- Asset Management enhancements, AIFMD/UCITS reforms in the EU and AIFM updates in the UK, sustainability disclosures and the Overseas Funds Regime implementation;
- Digital Finance with an emphasis on cryptoassets, stablecoins, tokenisation and DLT to mitigate stablecoin risks and promote safe adoption; and
- Sustainable Finance and Sustainability Reporting Standards.
- Broader Focus Areas and Draft Regulations
Both initiatives reflect a broader strategic shift in UK financial services policy, prioritising international alignment and digital transformation. Notable developments include:
- Crypto harmonisation, building on the UK’s Cryptoassets Roadmap, FCA Consultation Paper CP25/25 and HM Treasury’s draft amendments to the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs);
- Reducing regulatory burdens in fundraising, settlement and data-sharing, with particular attention to alignment on T+1 settlement and digital asset regulation;
- Strengthening resilience in Money Market Funds (MMFs), non-bank financial institutions and digital innovations; and
- Proportionality in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) frameworks, guided by upcoming MLR amendments and expected regulatory guidance.
Next Steps Firms and Stakeholders
Firms and stakeholders should proactively assess their operational readiness and ensure compliance with forthcoming changes by:
- Preparing for crypto and tokenisation rule changes impacting cross-border operations.
- Monitoring in EU-UK technical discussions on securitisation, MMFs and digital finance to ensure alignment with FSB standards.
- Update policies as needed to ensure compliance with upcoming regulatory changes (i.e. for T+1 – 2027, MLRs amendments early 2026) and FCA crypto authorisation;
- Conduct gap analyses on governance, resilience and sustainability disclosures.
How Complyport Can Help
Complyport offers tailored solutions to support compliance with international regulatory shifts and cross-border compliance. Our services include:
- AML/CTF/CPF Risk Assessments and Gap Analyses
- Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) policy reviews
- Cross Jurisdictional Rules Mapping
- Sustainability Disclosures
- Staff Training tailored to regulatory updates
- Regulatory Guidance and Compliance Advisory Support
Book a Meeting with a Complyport SME
To learn more and ensure compliance with upcoming regulatory developments, book a consultation with a Complyport Subject Matter Expert today.
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