Chris Holmes - Community Author: Finextra Research

What does the UK’s proposed Digital Assets Bill mean for the future of crypto?

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

What does the UK’s proposed Digital Assets Bill mean for the future of crypto?

On September 11 a new bill to clarify the legal status of digital assets, including crypto-tokens, was introduced to the House of Lords. Based on extensive work published by the Law Commission of England and Wales earlier this year the bill proposes a “third category” of personal property rights. Currently under UK law there are two traditional ...

20 September 2024 /regulation

UK election 2024: What it means for fintech regulation

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

UK election 2024: What it means for fintech regulation

We are days away from a general election and when the new government introduce their legislative agenda on 17th July, I hope it will include a new Smart Data Bill, Digital Assets Bill, National Payments Vision and, in case the government doesn’t introduce one, I will be bringing back my private members bill on regulating AI. Future of finance Num...

03 July 2024 /regulation

What does the General Election mean for Data Protection, Digital Markets, and AI Regulation Bills?

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

What does the General Election mean for Data Protection, Digital Markets, and AI Regulation Bills?

I started the year writing about three important new laws that were with us in the House of Lords: the Data Protection Bill, the Digital Markets Bill, and my own AI (Regulation) Bill. The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill covered many aspects of data protection law including enabling smart data/data sharing across government – key fo...

10 June 2024 /regulation

Open banking next step: A request for public input on how to structure the 'Future Entity'

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

Open banking next step: A request for public input on how to structure the 'Future Entity'

The Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee (JROC) consists of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Payments Systems Regulator (PSR), HM Treasury (HMT) and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and is tasked with realising the full potential of open banking. To this end, they have published recommendations for the next phase of open banking...

08 May 2024 /regulation

UK AI regulation: Second reading of the AI Bill

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

UK AI regulation: Second reading of the AI Bill

Lord Christopher Holmes presented the following speech for the House of Lords on March 21, 2024. I believe if we are to secure the opportunities and control the challenges of artificial intelligence, it's time to legislate AI systems that are principles-based, outcomes-focused, input-transparent, and permissioned, that are paid for and understood. ...

27 March 2024 /regulation

How upcoming legislation will harness algorithms, AI, and big tech for public good

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

How upcoming legislation will harness algorithms, AI, and big tech for public good

The fourth industrial revolution, as with the previous three, has ushered in an age of exciting new opportunities thanks to the digital tools and products now available to us, initiating innovation and making more choice and better services for consumers and citizens possible. These are all positive benefits that we should celebrate but as we desi...

02 February 2024 /regulation

The transformative potential of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

The transformative potential of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill

If it’s all about the data, then the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill must matter, and it does. Having completed its initial Commons stages it will receive second reading in the House of Lords today (19th December 2023). I will be exploring the vast opportunities afforded by the bill – as well as questioning the government on some of t...

19 December 2023 /regulation

Why the Electronic Trade Documents Act is the most important law you have never heard of

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

Why the Electronic Trade Documents Act is the most important law you have never heard of

On 20th September, the Electronic Trade Documents Act came into force. I have written here before about why the Electronic Trade Documents Bill was one of the most important bills you had never heard of: “Not only will this bill make trade faster, cheaper, and greener, it is an English law model of how to legislate for technology through specific ...

26 September 2023 /regulation

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

How will AI be regulated in the UK?

AI is impacting all sectors across financial services - capital markets, investment and retail banking; you name it, it’s algorithm-ed it. If you are seeking out a financial product, mortgage or de-materialized instrument, AI is likely in the mix. Last year NVIDIA reported over 75% of companies employing at least one of the traditional AI use cases...

12 July 2023 /regulation

The Financial Services and Markets Bill reaches final stages

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

The Financial Services and Markets Bill reaches final stages

The Financial Services and Markets Bill could be described as epic – in terms of proportions (346 pages), in terms of impact (biggest shake up of financial services in a generation), and in terms of the time it is taking to make its way through all parliamentary stages. The Bill was introduced in the Queen’s speech in May 2022 and given first rea...

28 June 2023 /regulation

The Financial Services and Markets Bill - Crypto, cash, and a regulatory dash

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

The Financial Services and Markets Bill - Crypto, cash, and a regulatory dash

The Financial Services and Markets Bill is the biggest shake up of financial services in a generation. It is making its way steadily through the legislative process and has on 23rd March 2023, completed Committee Stage in the House of Lords. Report Stage is yet to be scheduled. It is a huge Bill which will make wide-ranging changes to the regulati...

03 April 2023 /regulation

The Westminster Series: Optimising the potential of the Financial Services and Markets Bill

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

The Westminster Series: Optimising the potential of the Financial Services and Markets Bill

I have written here before about the Financial Services and Markets Bill - the biggest reform of financial services in a generation. It is a huge opportunity. According to the Government the bill will: implement the outcomes of the Future Regulatory Framework review (reshaping the UK’s regulatory and legislative regime as an independent state outs...

18 January 2023 /regulation

Long reads