In addition to the UAE, which we have contributed for the third year, this guide covers a broad range of common issues in fintech laws and regulations in 41 jurisdictions. Areas covered in the guide include the fintech landscape, funding for fintech, fintech regulation, other regulatory regimes / non-financial regulation, accessing talent, and technology.
Tag: Fintech
The Era of Crypto
The new year, 2022, will be the year in which cryptocurrencies gain more legitimacy worldwide through government regulation, oversight and further acceptance. Indeed, in December 2021, the Dubai World Trade Centre announced that it will become a crypto zone and a regulator for cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets – including digital assets, products, operators and exchanges. In September 2021, the country of El Salvador officially recognized Bitcoin as legal tender. Mexico has stated that it will have its own digital currency by 2024.
What is cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency is an electronic cash system, which removes the need for a centralized server (or bank) when a transaction is made. Instead of using a bank as intermediary, a transaction is communicated to and stored electronically simultaneously in multiple, geographically diverse computers (servers) at once. Such distributed, simultaneous notification and storage of such transaction on all these computers establishes that it is legitimate and prevents unauthorized changes later to such transaction. This is how blockchain technology works. A blockchain is a distributed database that is shared among the nodes of a computer network. As a database, a blockchain stores information electronically in digital format. Blockchains are best known for their crucial role in cryptocurrency systems, such as Bitcoin, for maintaining a secure and decentralized record of transactions. The innovation with a blockchain is that it guarantees the fidelity and security of a record of data and generates trust without the need for a trusted third party (i.e., a bank).
Why are cryptocurrencies popular?
One reason why crypto is so popular is because it doesn’t require too much effort or the involvement of third parties – only a computer.
Furthermore, many have predicted that cryptocurrencies will become the future primary currency in the world as they remove the need for banks from transactions and significantly reduces the cost of transactions.
Initial coin offerings
Much like in the physical world in which private companies go public by listing and selling their shares on public exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange, cryptocurrencies have initial coin offerings. An initial coin offering is an event where a company sells a new cryptocurrency to raise money. Investors receive cryptocurrency in exchange for their financial contributions. In many ways, an initial coin offering is the cryptocurrency version of an initial public offering in the stock market. With the growth of the crypto industry, initial coin offerings have also increased in popularity.
NFTs
The new trend in the crypto industry is NFTs. A non-fungible token (NFT) is a unique and non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a blockchain (the Ethereum blockchain is one of the most popular for this purpose), a form of digital ledger. NFTs can be associated with reproducible digital files such as photos, videos, and audio. So NFTs can really be anything digital (such as drawings or music), but a lot of the current excitement is around using the tech to sell and trade digital art. This has very recently created a unique market of buyers and sellers for digital art.
Legal considerations
In the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority’s Decision No. 23 of 2020 concerning Crypto Assets Activities Regulation. This regulation aims at regulating the offering, issuing, listing and trading of crypto assets in the UAE and related financial activities. The Central Bank has also issued the Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes Regulation regulating payment tokens.
The two financial free zones in the UAE are also becoming more active with respect to the crypto industry. The Dubai International Financial Centre has recently released the first part of a regulatory framework for digital tokens. The Abu Dhabi Global Market issued the Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015 which regulates virtual assets.
The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulation Law
On March 11, 2022, the Dubai government issued the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulation Law (VAR Law). His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum said “We have established an independent authority to oversee the development of the best business environment in the world for virtual assets in terms of regulation, licensing and governance and in line with local and global financial systems”.
The VAR Law regulates virtual assets (which include Bitcoin) and virtual tokens (such as NFTs) via the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. VARA aims, among other things, to promote Dubai’s position as a regional and global destination in the field of virtual assets; contribute to attracting investments and companies operating in the filed of virtual assets; provide the necessary systems to protect investors and dealers in virtual assets; and set up the regulations, rules and standards necessary related to virtual assets. VARA will also organize, supervise and control the issuance and offering of virtual assets and virtual tokens (such as initial coin offerings).
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With the increased digitalization of business, the crypto industry, cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets are making their claim in the future of business. Regardless of the risks involved and the volatility, crypto is an undeniable trend which will be a challenge to the status quo. The VAR Law is the Emirate of Dubai’s pronouncement of its willingness to promote and compete in this new digital economy. ■
The Future is Fintech
What is Fintech?
The term fintech refers to the technologising of the financial industry. Fintech has become ever more recognized in the past few years, especially amidst COVID-19 in which demand for cashless payments and quick transactions have increased. Fintech exists in our daily lives from online banking to blockchain and to cryptocurrencies.
Start-up Fintech companies in the UAE
Dubai is one of the top ten fintech hubs in the world making it an ideal place for fintech companies, particularly start-ups. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has stated that in the Middle East and North Africa alone, fintech start-ups raised over $100 million.
Additionally, free zones within the UAE are offering incentives to encourage fintech companies to set up. The DIFC, for example, has done this by offering a dedicated commercial license specifically developed for the industry with appealing schemes and licensing advantages.
Investments in Fintech
As well as being a great start-up opportunity, this developing industry is also highly appealing for venture capitalists and investors with a strategic interest in technology, finance and the financial industry. The global fintech market alone is estimated at $5 trillion and there are around 41 venture capitalist backed fintech companies worth a combined $154.1 billion.
Although fintech is a relatively new concept, it has quickly influenced well-established and traditional businesses such as banks, mortgage brokers, insurance companies, accountancy, and real estate firms.
Future of Fintech
The latest venture for fintech is the insurance industry. Many fintech companies have been partnering with traditional insurance companies to disrupt the traditional insurance model. One example is the development of InsurTech which aims to completely automate the insurance process.
Legal considerations of Fintech
Fintech, as a financial service, is mainly regulated through a UAE onshore regulatory framework, but there are also regulations within the DIFC and the Abu Dhabi Global Market. The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and Central Bank are key UAE onshore financial regulators – the SCA has approved a fintech draft resolution which introduces a regulatory framework to pilot fintech licenses and allows license holders to operate in a ‘sandbox’ environment. In 2020-2021, the Central Bank has issued various regulations governing the fintech space, particularly relating to retail and large value payment systems, payment services and card schemes and stored value facilities. These regulations were issued with a one year transition period allowing businesses to align their activities in accordance with the applicable requirements.
Despite the appeal of fintech, there have also been concerns regarding cybersecurity (such as data protection and safeguarding personal financial information).
Conclusion
Fintech appears to be the natural evolution of certain financial services including banking. Setting up and operating a fintech company requires business savvy and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Afridi & Angell has been and continues to provide innovative and informed legal advice to fintech companies in their financings/capital raises, operations, growth, acquisitions and sales. We provide a comprehensive legal offering in the financial technology space and have in-depth experience in related issues, regulations and industry agreements. ■
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If you require more detailed information, please do not hesitate to contact Shahram Safai at Afridi & Angell at ssafai@afridi-angell.com.