SEC's public fintech innovation forum set for November
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will host a public forum in Washington DC on 14 November to discuss fintech innovation. The forum aims to stimulate collaboration and understanding among entrepreneurs, regulators and industry experts and consider how the current regulatory framework can effectively address the new technologies. Issues for discussion will include blockchain technology, robo-advisors, online marketplace lending, crowdfunding, and how they may affect investors. The forum will be open to the public and webcast live on the SEC’s website.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that it will host a public forum in Washington, D.C. on November 14, 2016 to discuss financial technology innovation in the financial services industry. The forum is designed to foster greater collaboration and understanding among regulators, entrepreneurs and industry experts about fintech innovation and evaluate how the current regulatory environment can most effectively address these new technologies.

The panels will discuss issues such as blockchain technology, automated investment advice or robo-advisors, online marketplace lending and crowdfunding, and how they may impact investors. The forum will be open to the public and webcast live on the SEC’s website.

A bill was recently introduced by Congressman Patrick McHenry that would establish a “Financial Services Innovation Office” within various federal agencies, including the CFPB and SEC, that would consider petitions from persons that offer or intend to offer a financial innovation and seek to enter into an agreement under which the agency would agree to waive or modify regulatory or statutory requirements applicable to the innovation.