In November, industry participants and their regulators convened
at the SEC for a special forum on the use of financial technology
(fintech). In recent years, large amounts have been invested in
fintech platforms such as automated investment advisers
(robo-advisers), distributed ledger (blockchain) technology for
trading, settlement and clearing processes, and online portals
(including crowdfunding) for capital formation.
The SEC has balanced regulatory concerns that such platforms not
be rushed to market to the detriment of investors with industry
demands to accommodate for future growth and innovation. The forum
focused on recent initiatives and trends to harmonize these
advanced technologies/systems and the current regulatory landscape.
The fintech industry does not want to be subject to an
"antiquated" system that fails to address the unique
features of these new technologies and regulatory concerns.
