Asset-based Lending Wrapped 2025

The Financial Conduct Authority has released comprehensive perimeter guidance for the UK's new regulated cryptoasset activities regime, clarifying when firms will need authorization and how the regulatory framework applies to qualifying cryptoassets and stablecoins. The guidance addresses critical questions about scope, territorial application, and the narrower "by way of business" test that determines which entities fall under the new regulatory requirements.

Islamic finance is experiencing rapid global expansion, with assets approaching US$6tn and record sukuk issuance attracting non-traditional investors. The convergence of Shariah-compliant and sustainable investing is creating new opportunities, while AAOIFI Standard No. 62 and tokenisation developments are reshaping how Islamic finance structures are designed and implemented across international markets.

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority has finalized comprehensive perimeter guidance for its cryptoasset regime, opening a five-month authorization window for firms, while the US Senate's procedural rejection of the CLARITY Act leaves American digital asset regulation to continue through agency action. This divergence highlights fundamentally different regulatory approaches: a legislatively anchored UK implementation path versus US reliance on existing statutory authorities as Congress debates market structu

HM Treasury has published a consultation proposing a significant overhaul of the UK's payment services and electronic money regulatory framework, aiming to create a more agile regime that accommodates tokenised payments, open banking innovations, and agentic AI while maintaining consumer protections and addressing financial crime risks.

The London Stock Exchange has implemented sweeping reforms to the AIM Rules, fundamentally reshaping admission requirements, transaction thresholds, and governance obligations for companies on the Alternative Investment Market. These changes eliminate longstanding requirements like working capital statements and corporate governance codes while introducing new features such as capital access windows and special voting shares, marking the most significant overhaul of AIM regulations in recent years.

The Financial Conduct Authority has released a comprehensive package of regulatory updates and findings covering investment management, wealth management, and consumer protection. Key developments include reforms to MiFID costs and charges disclosures, remuneration code changes, AIFM regime overhauls, and detailed reviews of firms' Consumer Duty compliance, financial crime controls, and governance frameworks.

Cryptoasset firms face a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape as the FCA's authorisation gateway opens on 30 September 2026. With the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 laid before Parliament and the FCA's finalised PERG 18 guidance published within 24 hours, firms must navigate significant perimeter changes including new stablecoin payment exclusions.

On 14 July 2026, HM Treasury published its long-awaited consultation on modernising the UK’s payment services and electronic money regulatory framework. The consultation is part of the Government’s National Payments Vision agenda, which aims to ensure that the UK has a trusted, world-leading payments ecosystem delivered on next generation technology, while preserving choice for consumers and businesses.

The European Parliament has published its negotiating position on SFDR 2.0, setting the stage for trilogue negotiations between the Commission, Parliament and Council. With the asset management industry hoping for relief from the complexities of SFDR 1.0, the Parliament's proposals claim to simplify the regime while maintaining credibility of sustainability-related investments.

The EU Data Act brings sweeping changes for SaaS providers, introducing new rights for customers to switch providers and mandating clear, written contractual terms around data portability and migration.

In a recently published case (4655/2566) which was decided in 2023, the Supreme Court of Thailand examined a renewal clause in a long term lease contract and its compatibility...

2025 has seen significant changes to Irish Immigration and this change will continue into 2026, including digitalisation of processes...

The Singapore High Court's decision in Arki-Tech International Private Ltd v Rentak Tabrau Sdn Bhd [2025] SGHC 233 is an exercise in the application of well-settled principles...

A New Vision for Water introduces reforms that organisations across the water supply chain, industry, agriculture, development and local government need to prepare for.

From 1 January 2025, the new Polish Classification of Business Activities (PKD 2025) replaces the previous PKD 2007, introducing updated and expanded business activity...

The Employment Rights Act 2025 marks a new era for UK employment law, with far reaching implications for HR professionals and businesses.

Germany, particularly the Frankfurt area, has established itself as one of Europe's leading data centre hubs, supported by its central location...

The FLAP-D markets (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin) remain Europe's leading data centre hubs, driven by the surging demand for cloud technologies and ongoing digital transformation.

The Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 (CPR) came into effect on 8 January 2026. The CPR will substantially replace the long-standing Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (2011 Regulation).