Yazılar

FCA Defends Palantir Contract Before Lawmakers

/in /tarafından

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority defended its decision to award a contract to Palantir for artificial intelligence tools, after lawmakers raised concerns about the company’s growing presence across public institutions.

The contract covers a 12-week project to analyze the FCA’s internal data to help fight financial crime. During questioning in parliament, officials said Palantir would not gain access to sensitive regulatory intelligence in a way that would compromise oversight or control.

Lawmakers expressed concern about dependence on a U.S. technology provider, especially one that already holds contracts with other major British public bodies. They also raised questions about whether such firms could become too dominant in government systems.

FCA officials said the procurement process was conducted without knowing the winning bidder in advance and argued that tackling money laundering and financial crime requires stronger data analysis tools. They maintained that the regulator needs advanced technology to improve enforcement capabilities.

Palantir said it is restricted by contract from using or commercializing customer data and can only process information according to the client’s instructions.

Bank of England Eases Stablecoin Rules, Allowing Investment in Government Debt

/in /tarafından

The Bank of England (BoE) has proposed a more flexible regulatory framework for stablecoins, allowing issuers to invest up to 60% of their backing assets in government debt, a move that marks a softer stance toward the rapidly growing digital asset sector.

The proposal, part of a package of rules expected to take effect next year, represents a shift from the BoE’s earlier, stricter approach, which required stablecoin issuers to hold all their reserves in non-interest-bearing central bank accounts — a move that critics said would have stifled the industry’s development in the UK.

The new plan reduces that requirement to 40%, allowing the remaining portion to be invested in interest-bearing assets such as short-term government securities.

“Today’s proposals mark a pivotal step towards implementing the UK’s stablecoin regime next year,” said Sarah Breeden, the BoE’s deputy governor for financial stability. “We’ve listened carefully to feedback and amended our proposals for achieving this, including on how stablecoin issuers interact with the Bank of England.”

The central bank confirmed it will supervise only those stablecoins intended for widespread payment use, while non-systemic tokens — those primarily used for crypto trading — will fall under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

However, the BoE maintained its plan to cap holdings at £20,000 ($26,842) for individuals and £10 million for businesses, though large firms such as supermarkets or exchanges could apply for exemptions. The bank said these limits would be temporary, designed to mitigate potential financial stability risks.

In a further step, the BoE is also considering providing liquidity facilities to systemic stablecoin issuers during times of market stress.

Crypto industry figures welcomed the more balanced approach but urged further relaxation. Tom Duff Gordon, vice president of international policy at Coinbase, said the BoE “could have allowed up to 80% of assets to be invested in government bonds” and called for “clearer timelines” on when the caps would be lifted.

The consultation period for the proposals runs until February 10, 2026.

UK Regulator Sues Crypto Exchange HTX for Unlawful Promotions

/in /tarafından

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has filed a lawsuit against global cryptocurrency exchange HTX — formerly known as Huobi — accusing the company of illegally promoting crypto asset services to British consumers without authorization.

The regulator confirmed on Wednesday that it had launched civil proceedings in London’s High Court, arguing that HTX breached Britain’s strict financial promotions regime, which requires any firm marketing crypto services in the country to be registered and authorised. HTX, the FCA’s database shows, is not authorised to operate in the UK.

“This action is part of our commitment to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of UK financial markets,” an FCA spokesperson said, adding that unlicensed promotions could mislead investors about the risks of digital assets.

HTX, founded in 2013, lists Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun as a global adviser. Sun, a controversial figure in the crypto world, has drawn attention for his links to World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s crypto venture, and for his financial support of its $TRUMP memecoin, where a blockchain wallet labeled “SUN” was identified as the largest holder.

The FCA introduced new regulations in 2023 to bring crypto advertising under tighter control, forcing exchanges to include risk warnings and secure approval from authorized firms. These rules form part of Britain’s push to develop a “competitive yet responsible” crypto regime.

HTX currently appears on the FCA’s warning list, which identifies companies that investors are urged to avoid. The lawsuit, filed against Huobi Global and four “persons unknown” — including the exchange’s owners, operators, and promotion heads — signals the regulator’s intent to hold overseas firms accountable when their activities target UK consumers.

The case underscores Britain’s broader crackdown on unregulated crypto activity, as authorities attempt to balance innovation with consumer protection amid a volatile global digital asset market.