Stock chart representing the FCA's review of AI in financial services

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that most corporate finance firms carry out core compliance activities, but many lack the independence, presence and day-to-day practices that allow compliance to challenge the business. In a blog published on 8 October 2026, the FCA reported that 63% of surveyed firms have a compliance function with other business responsibilities, 90% use third-party compliance support, and 140 firms do not include regulatory compliance in sta

For FCA-regulated firms, maintaining an effective compliance function is an ongoing responsibility. However, the resources and expertise required to meet regulatory obligations can vary considerably depending on a firm's size, business model and stage of development. Some firms have established compliance teams but struggle to balance day-to-day regulatory responsibilities with an increasing workload. Others may rely on a single individual to oversee compliance or have no ded

The Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) final cryptoasset rules, published on 30 June 2026, keep the framework it consulted on but make targeted changes to prudential capital, safeguarding, trading, staking, lending and stablecoin issuance. The changes with the most practical effect are a simpler capital treatment for cryptoasset holdings, a halved capital factor for stablecoin issuers and more workable custody and staking rules. Firms that prepared gap analyses or draft appl

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is proposing that non-UCITS retail scheme (NURS) funds with at least 50% of their value in inherently illiquid assets, such as direct property, should deal no more than once a month and require investors to give at least 90 days' notice to redeem. The proposals are set out in Consultation Paper CP26/35, Fair redemption terms for authorised funds investing in illiquid assets, published on 8 October 2026. They are not final rules: the FCA i

Firms that want to carry on regulated cryptoasset activities in the UK when the new regime starts must now apply to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for authorisation. The FCA opened its application window on 30 September 2026 and it closes on 28 February 2027, ahead of the regime coming into force on 25 October 2027. Existing firms that apply within the window can, subject to conditions, keep operating while the FCA decides their application; firms that apply later, or