The guidelines set out the MAS’ expectation that digital payment token service providers should not promote their services to the general public in Singapore. By Simon Hawkins, Farhana Sharmeen, and Tan Gen Huong On 17 January 2022, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the MAS) issued new guidelines (the Guidelines) setting out restrictions on the promotion … Continue Reading
The French Data Protection Authority’s white paper discusses how companies can comply with data privacy and security obligations. By Christian F. McDermott, Myria Saarinen, Calum Docherty, Charlotte Guerin, Jiou (Alex) Park, and Amy Smyth The use of card, contactless, and innovative digital payment solutions has significantly increased in recent years, fueled by the immediate impacts … Continue Reading
Online retailers storing credit card data for the sole purpose of facilitating further purchases will likely need to obtain consumer consent. By Christian F. McDermott, Calum Docherty, and Victoria Wan Online shopping has boomed in recent years. In 2020, the European statistics agency Eurostat estimated that 7 out of 10 internet users made online purchases … Continue Reading
A report from the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform provides recommendations for how the UK can “re-imagine” its approach to regulation post-Brexit. By Rob Moulton, Stuart Davis, and Charlotte Collins On 16 June 2021, the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform (the Taskforce) published a report (the Report) providing recommendations for how … Continue Reading
The paper identifies potential gaps in protections for consumers, with a focus on consumer-to-business payments via the Faster Payments System. By Christian F. McDermott, Claudia Sousa, and Alain Traill In November, Pay.UK, the retail payments authority, released a summary paper exploring the consumer protection landscape relating to disputed retail payments. The paper, titled “Consumer Protections … Continue Reading
As contactless transactions boom, EU regulators publish draft guidelines on the interplay between the GDPR and PSD2. By Fiona M. Maclean, Christian F. McDermott, Calum Docherty, and Amy Smyth Last year, more than half of all payments in the UK were made by card and contactless methods, while cash made up less than a quarter … Continue Reading
A new report explores the advantages, impacts, and approaches the Eurosystem is considering as it contemplates a digital currency. By Max von Cube In October 2020, the European Central Bank (ECB) published a Report on a Digital Euro (the Report). The Report sets out the main findings of a task force initiated in early 2020 … Continue Reading
Elisabeth Stheeman of the Financial Policy Committee outlined the new frameworks for building operational resilience against cyber risks and protection of payment chains. By Brett Carr and Stuart Davis On 9 September 2020, Elisabeth Stheeman, an External Member of the Financial Policy Committee (FPC) for the Bank of England (BoE) delivered a speech entitled, “The … Continue Reading
Andrew Bailey outlined what payments market participants can expect from regulators seeking to address financial stability risk in the world of payments, including as part of the rise and adoption of global stablecoins. By Brett Carr and Stuart Davis On 3 September 2020, the Governor of the Bank of England (BoE) Andrew Bailey delivered a … Continue Reading
The updates are part of SAMA’s efforts to promote an innovation-based financial technology ecosystem in the KSA. By Salman Al-Sudairi, Brian A. Meenagh, and Homam Khoshaim Last month, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) issued an update to the recently implemented Payment Services Provider Regulations (PSPR), which was introduced in January 2020 to regulate Payment … Continue Reading
A new Payments Charter could enable entities to engage in payments-related activities on a nationwide basis, rather than by state. By Alan W. Avery, Todd Beauchamp, Pia Naib, Loyal T. Horsley, and Charles Weinstein The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) newly appointed Acting Comptroller, Brian P. Brooks, is already advancing the … Continue Reading
The additional temporary guidance aims to strengthen the arrangements for safeguarding customers’ funds and firms’ prudential risk management in light of the impact of COVID-19. By Stuart Davis, Brett Carr, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 9 July 2020, the FCA published its finalised guidance on safeguarding customers’ funds during the COVID-19 crisis. The finalised guidance applies … Continue Reading
MAS confirms regulatory approach for derivative contracts on payment tokens. By Farhana Sharmeen and Marc Jia Renn Tan On 15 May 2020, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the MAS) issued its response to feedback about its proposed regulatory approach for derivative contracts that reference payment tokens as underlying assets (Payment Token Derivatives), confirming that it … Continue Reading
The report encourages the G20 to consider a broad set of supervisory principles when evaluating global stablecoin arrangements. By Todd Beauchamp, Stuart Davis, Christian F. McDermott, Yvette D. Valdez, Stephen P. Wink, Simon Hawkins, and Deric Behar On April 14, 2020, the G20’s Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a consultation on the regulation, supervision, and … Continue Reading
Call for input: market players need to engage with the process for the procurement of the NPA By Stuart Davis, David Little, Christian McDermott, Brett Carr, and Nathan Wilkins This Call for Input is part of the development of the Payment Systems Regulator’s (PSR) policy for the future regulation of the newly procured New Payments … Continue Reading
Latham derivatives and FinTech partner Yvette Valdez explores regulatory issues impacting cryptocurrency derivatives on the Fintech Beat podcast. By Yvette D. Valdez New York partner Yvette Valdez, a member of Latham & Watkins’ FinTech Industry Group, recently discussed timely issues at the intersection of cryptoassets and derivatives law on a new episode of Fintech Beat. … Continue Reading
Upgraded legislation creates an enhanced regulatory framework for the new age of payments, including e-money and digital payment tokens. By Farhana Sharmeen and Simon Hawkins After much anticipation, and following consultations with the industry at large, the game-changing Payment Services Act 2019 (PSA) has finally become operational. The PSA, which came into effect on 28 … Continue Reading
CBDCs will have a profound effect on the financial markets, and policy-makers must thoroughly consider the complex legal and regulatory issues. By Stuart Davis, Andrew Moyle, and Simon Hawkins Latham & Watkins lawyers are pleased to have contributed to the World Economic Forum’s CBDC Policy-Maker Toolkit. This resource is designed to provide a high-level decision … Continue Reading
In two recent articles, Latham & Watkins lawyers examine the SEC’s guidance on the application of securities regulations to digital assets and the questions that remain unanswered. By Stephen P. Wink, Witold Balaban, John J. Sikora, Miles P. Jennings, Emanuel V. Francone, Cameron R. Kates, and Shaun Musuka Digital Asset Regulation: Howey Evolves In this … Continue Reading
Call for input: Industry needs to engage as the FCA moves forward on its transformative vision for open finance. By Stuart Davis and Brett Carr Imagine a world in which you could access your bank accounts, credit cards, mortgage, pensions, savings accounts and ISAs, brokerage account, home and car insurance, life insurance, and other financial … Continue Reading
Global monetary authorities and financial regulators have responded forcefully to the advent of privately developed global stablecoins. By Todd Beauchamp, David L. Concannon, Stephen P. Wink, Simon Hawkins, Stuart Davis, and Deric Behar A new report highlights the risks of global stablecoins and enumerates the legal, regulatory, and oversight hurdles a global stablecoin must clear … Continue Reading
The BoE is seeking feedback on the Introductory Phase of the ISO 20022 migration, that will create a common language for payments data globally. By Christian F. McDermott, Grace E. Erskine, and Amy Smyth In 2018, the Bank of England (BoE) consulted on the adoption of ISO 20022 — a global standard for payments messaging … Continue Reading
European Commission confirms SCA measures should apply to EU consumers purchasing from UK websites in the event of a no-deal Brexit. By Christian F. McDermott, Jagveen S. Tyndall, and Amy Smyth Complex payment processing chains comprise multiple entities operating behind the scenes to support everyday transactions. The strong customer authentication (SCA) requirements introduced by the … Continue Reading
US lawmakers urge FSOC to designate cloud-based storage systems used by major banks as systemically important financial market utilities. By Alan W. Avery, Victoria McGrath, and Pia Naib In an August 22, 2019, letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in his capacity as chair of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), Congresswoman Katie Porter … Continue Reading
