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FinTech & Digital Assets

The FinTech sector moves faster than almost any other and the regulatory environment is working hard to keep up. At Steelyn Legal, we combine deep technical understanding of financial technology with sharp regulatory expertise, helping FinTech businesses navigate authorisation, compliance, digital asset regulation and commercial structuring from day one through to scale.

Who We Serve

We advise a broad range of FinTech and digital asset businesses — from pre-revenue startups through to established platforms and publicly listed firms.

Crypto Exchanges & Wallets

Payment Institutions

E-Money Firms

Investment Platforms

Lending & BNPL

Blockchain & DeFi

FCA Registration & Authorisation

Operating a FinTech business in the UK without the right regulatory permissions is a criminal offence. We guide businesses through the full FCA authorisation and registration process — from threshold conditions assessment and business model review through to application submission and ongoing supervision.

  • Payment Institution (PI) and Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorisation
  • Crypto asset business registration under the MLRs
  • Consumer credit and BNPL authorisation
  • Investment firm authorisation (MiFID II / MIFIDPRU)
  • FCA Sandbox and Innovation Pathway applications
  • Appointed Representative arrangements

Steelyn Legal has guided FinTech businesses through FCA authorisation from application to approval — including crypto asset registration under the Money Laundering Regulations, one of the most demanding processes in UK financial services.

Crypto & Digital Asset Regulation

The regulatory landscape for crypto assets and digital assets is evolving rapidly — with the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 bringing crypto firmly within the UK regulatory perimeter. We advise crypto businesses on what the new framework means for them and how to position for authorisation under the incoming regime.

  • Crypto asset business registration and AML compliance
  • Stablecoin and e-money token regulation
  • NFT regulatory analysis and structuring advice
  • DeFi protocol legal structuring
  • Token issuance, ICO and STO legal frameworks
  • Exchange and custodian regulatory obligations

Commercial & Contractual FinTech Matters

Beyond regulation, FinTech businesses face a range of complex commercial legal challenges — from drafting terms of service and API agreements through to structuring investment rounds and managing data partnerships.

  • Terms of service, user agreements and privacy policies
  • API and data sharing agreements
  • Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and embedded finance agreements
  • Venture capital and seed investment documentation
  • IP ownership and technology licensing
  • Open banking and PSD2 compliance frameworks

FinTech Compliance & Ongoing Advisory

Authorisation is the beginning, not the end. Regulated FinTech firms face ongoing compliance obligations that evolve as regulators update their expectations. We act as a standing external counsel for FinTech businesses — providing ongoing regulatory advice, reviewing new products and features for regulatory impact and supporting firms through supervisory visits and thematic reviews.

We understand that FinTech businesses move fast. Our advice is practical, commercially grounded and delivered at the pace your business demands.

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Building a FinTech Business?

Get the regulatory and commercial legal foundation right from day one. Speak with our FinTech team today — initial consultations are free.

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