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Dutch Regulators Embrace Fintech Innovation with Asset Issuance Requirements and Regulatory Sandbox

Amsterdam - The Dutch financial regulatory landscape is becoming increasingly welcoming to fintech innovation, with a focus on asset issuance requirements and a regulatory sandbox designed to encourage experimentation and entrepreneurship.

Stimulation of Innovation through Regulatory Support

According to a recent report, the Netherlands’ financial regulators are actively contributing to stimulating innovation through the establishment of an innovation hub and a regulatory sandbox. The Innovation Hub for the financial sector, set up by DNB and AFM in 2016, offers businesses the opportunity to submit questions about supervision and regulations directly to the relevant authorities.

Regulatory Sandbox

The regulatory sandbox, which was created to facilitate innovation and enable businesses to launch new products without unnecessary regulatory hindrance, allows applicants to request an assessment of whether their innovative concepts comply with applicable financial markets regulations. This enables a constructive dialogue between fintech businesses and regulators, encouraging entrepreneurship and growth in the sector.

Innovation Forum (iForum)

In addition, DNB has established an innovation forum (iForum), which serves as a platform for joint initiatives that create value for both supervised institutions and the regulator. The iForum aims to establish an ongoing dialogue on the impact of technological innovations in the financial sector, develop joint pilots and experiments, and foster collaboration between fintech businesses and traditional financial institutions.

Asset Issuance Requirements

When it comes to asset issuance requirements, crypto-asset issuers are now required to publish a white paper for investors, providing transparency and clarity around their products. Furthermore, fintech businesses operating in the Netherlands must comply with DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act), which sets out strict rules for ensuring the resilience of digital services.

Authorization and Notification Procedures

For fintech businesses established outside the Netherlands looking to access new customers in the country, offering financial services or products that fall within the scope of Dutch regulatory law requires prior authorization by the relevant regulator. However, for certain EU-wide regulated types of financial services and products, fintech businesses may make use of their authorisation in another EU Member State, which limits the requirements to a notification procedure only.

Data Privacy Laws

In terms of data privacy laws, the Netherlands is party to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which applies directly in all EU Member States. The GDPR regulates the collection, use, and transmission of personal data, and fintech businesses operating in the country must comply with its principles and rules.

Conclusion

The article concludes that the Dutch regulatory landscape is becoming increasingly welcoming to fintech innovation, with a focus on asset issuance requirements, regulatory sandboxes, and data privacy laws designed to protect consumers. As the fintech sector continues to grow and evolve, it remains to be seen how these regulations will shape the future of financial services in the Netherlands.