A River of Opportunity: Why the UK’s Capital Markets Are Ripe for Innovation and Investment
By AnyAccount Ltd.
FinTech Advisory | www.anyaccount.org
At the 2025 Association of Corporate Treasurers Annual Conference, Dominic Holland, the FCA’s Director of Market Oversight, delivered a compelling message: the UK’s capital markets are not just open—they are evolving, and the opportunities for growth, innovation, and investment have never been stronger.
Framed by a river metaphor—steady, shaping, and impactful—Holland’s speech offered a clear vision: the UK is on a determined path to reduce regulatory burden, embrace innovation, and stimulate capital market activity, all while maintaining a balance with consumer protection.
At AnyAccount Ltd., we believe this creates a prime environment for financial innovation and inward investment—particularly for those launching new products or seeking to expand access to capital.
Capital Markets: Still World-Class, and Getting Better
The FCA’s 2025–2030 strategy places economic growth at the centre of regulatory ambition. With the UK capital markets contributing over £100 billion annually in tax revenue—over half the NHS budget—the FCA recognises that efficient, well-regulated markets are critical to national prosperity.
In his speech, Holland made it clear: facilitating growth and access to capital is now a strategic objective for the regulator, not just a by-product of supervision. That includes easing reporting obligations, enabling streamlined capital raising, and supporting broader investor access.
For those seeking to launch new investment products, funding platforms, or digitised capital markets infrastructure, this is the signpost you've been waiting for.
What’s Changing? Key Developments to Watch
Several current FCA initiatives highlight where the investment environment is improving:
Reforms to the UK Listing Regime: New proposals are making it easier and faster for firms to list and raise capital.
Lower Denomination Corporate Bonds: The FCA aims to open corporate bond markets to retail investors by reducing minimum thresholds.
Support for Public Offer Platforms: New rules will enable more innovative models of capital raising, particularly for SMEs.
Digitisation and Tokenisation: With growing attention to fund tokenisation, stablecoins, and crypto-regulation, the UK is positioning itself at the forefront of regulated financial innovation.
Transition to T+1 Settlement (by Oct 2027): Faster settlement cycles will reduce market risk and enhance efficiency, aligning the UK with the US, Canada, and EU markets.
Each of these reforms unlocks new corridors for capital formation, liquidity, and product innovation—ideal for both established firms and nimble disruptors.
Innovation with Guardrails: The FCA’s Balanced Approach
One of the clearest takeaways from the speech is this: the UK is pro-growth, but not growth at any cost. The FCA is recalibrating risk without compromising its commitment to consumer protection and market integrity.
That’s excellent news for fintechs and investment firms alike: there’s now a visible, stable regulatory lane in which to innovate. As the FCA becomes a more predictable, purposeful, and proportionate regulator, the runway for product design, investor access, and capital mobility becomes longer and smoother.
Collaboration and Consultation: A Seat at the Table
Holland’s background in corporate bond trading and market infrastructure gives him a practical view of what market participants need. “We don’t know what we don’t know,” he stated frankly, inviting more active engagement from the corporate and fintech sectors.
This is a moment for entrepreneurs, capital markets professionals, and fintech builders to get involved in the regulatory dialogue. Consultations on crypto, tokenised assets, and capital raising rules offer a unique chance to shape the next chapter of UK finance.
Conclusion: A River Worth Following
The UK investment environment is not just strong—it’s getting smarter, faster, and more accessible. As new technologies and reforms unlock pathways to growth, the FCA’s strategy offers reassurance that these changes will be sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking.
At AnyAccount Ltd., we support innovators and institutions navigating the UK regulatory landscape. Whether you're exploring tokenised funds, launching an investment platform, or just trying to understand where your product fits into the evolving rulebook—we’re here to help.
Let’s build the future of finance, one drop at a time.
Contact us at info@anyaccount.org to discuss how your venture can ride the river of opportunity.
