Industry
FinTechs
FinTechs are increasingly entering the digital asset space through products such as crypto-enabled wallets, investment apps, embedded finance solutions, tokenised assets, stablecoin payments, digital identity tools, on-chain rewards, and blockchain-based financial infrastructure. For many FinTechs, digital assets are not a separate industry, but an extension of existing customer-facing financial services.
This creates both opportunity and complexity. FinTechs often move quickly, build across multiple markets, and rely on partnerships, APIs, third-party infrastructure, and modular technology stacks. When digital assets are added to that model, firms need to understand where crypto regulation, payments regulation, financial promotions rules, consumer protection, AML, fraud prevention, data protection, and operational resilience requirements overlap.
Key compliance challenges for FinTechs
Identifying the correct regulatory perimeter
Assessing whether a product or feature falls within crypto-asset services, payment services, e-money, investment services, financial promotions, lending, custody, or another regulated activity. FinTechs often need to classify not only the asset, but also the user journey, revenue model, customer interaction, and role of each third-party provider.
Designing compliant products from the start
Embedding compliance into product design, rather than adding it after launch. This includes assessing onboarding flows, customer disclosures, eligibility checks, risk warnings, wallet functionality, transaction limits, redemption rights, marketing language, and user consent mechanisms before products go live.
Managing multi-jurisdictional rollout risk
Understanding how digital asset features may trigger different regulatory consequences across markets. A product that is permitted in one jurisdiction may require authorisation, registration, local disclosures, marketing restrictions, or product changes in another.
Managing reliance on partners and infrastructure providers
Assessing the compliance implications of relying on exchanges, custodians, wallet providers, stablecoin issuers, banking partners, payment processors, blockchain analytics vendors, Travel Rule providers, and other infrastructure providers. FinTechs need clear accountability for outsourced or partnered parts of the customer journey.
Building AML, fraud, and Travel Rule controls into digital user journeys
Integrating customer due diligence, wallet screening, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, Travel Rule workflows, scam detection, fraud controls, and escalation processes into fast, customer-friendly digital experiences without weakening regulatory standards.
Scaling governance, compliance, and operational resilience
Ensuring that governance, risk management, incident response, recordkeeping, audit trails, complaints handling, data protection, and operational resilience controls keep pace as the business scales. FinTechs need compliance frameworks that are flexible enough for innovation, but robust enough for regulated financial activity.
Recommended CARCI programmes
Examination-assessed specialist programmes for regulatory and compliance professionals.
MiCAR Specialist
EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation Specialist
80h · Examination included
Travel Rule Specialist
Certified Crypto Travel Rule Specialist
12h · Examination included
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