UK and Singapore: A regulatory alliance shaping fintech expansion
On the 3rd of July 2025 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) held the 10th UK–Singapore Financial Dialogue, an event that both regulators have used over the years to develop collaboration opportunities between the two countries and set clear priorities. This edition covered a broad range of topics, from international regulatory developments to digital finance and innovation.
This meeting indicates that two of the most forward-thinking regulators in the financial system share a similar vision for the future. From a fintech and financial services perspective, this is significant - when two regulators align, it reduces international expansion frictions, streamlines the authorsation processes and reduces regulatory approval timelines.
Strategic alignment unlocks growth, not just compliance
From AI in finance to digital assets, ESG standards to capital markets reform, the FCA and MAS are actively coordinating on issues that matter most to innovative firms. Their July 2025 Dialogue resulted in several concrete moves:
Expanded cooperation on asset tokenisation through MAS’s Project Guardian.
Joint launch of an AI-in-Finance showcase, hosted by MAS and the FCA.
A roadmap for ongoing engagement on sustainable finance and digital innovation.
Shared regulatory priorities and a commitment to Basel III, with an exchange of lessons learnt during implementation.
Agreement to align sustainability disclosures with ISSB standards, develop ESG rating frameworks, and promote robust voluntary carbon markets.
A two-way street for ambitious fintechs
Why does this matter? Because under normal circumstances, regulatory frameworks vary greatly and have different perspectives. However, in this case, they are converging, meaning that:
Firms licensed in the UK can more confidently scale into Singapore, with shared expectations around digital finance and sustainability.
Singapore-licensed firms can enter the UK market with a head start, especially in areas like AI and carbon trading infrastructure.
We’ve seen this play out with some of the fastest-scaling fintechs - strategic licensing across these two hubs creates credibility, investor appeal, and product scalability across Asia and Europe.
Regulation is moving. Are you?
FintechXpndr (FXp) was born with the same principles in mind, as our initiative was launched with direct support of the UK-Singapore FinTech Bridge, a government-backed programme designed to remove barriers to fintech trade and deepen collaboration between two of the world’s most dynamic innovation hubs.
Braithwate partnered with HM, compliance consultancies based in the UK and Singapore, to create FXp and provide fintech firms with the practical and strategic support needed for international expansion. We help fintechs:
Understand the most appropriate licenses to apply for in each jurisdiction based on their business model and growth strategy
Map out licensing requirements and a project roadmap from the start until the day you obtain your licence
Pre-empt regulator expectations to avoid back-and-forth cycles
The next UK–Singapore dialogue is already scheduled for 2026 in Singapore. If you want to move before your competitors catch up, now’s the time to map your play.
Go to FXp to unlock your growth strategy.
