Context
The Rt Hon Lucy Rigby LC MP gave a speech at UK Finance on 8 September 2026.
Key points to note and next actions
- Digitalisation is becoming more prevalent – the UK’s wholesale financial markets are entering a major transition from electronic to fully digital infrastructure, with digital representation of assets or rights expected to become a defining feature of future markets.
- The UK aims to lead globally. The government sees digitalisation as a national benefit, requiring close collaboration between government, regulators and industry to maintain the UK’s competitiveness and drive economic growth.
- The main challenge is coordination, not technology – the technology already exists; the priorities are ensuring common operational standards, maintaining liquidity, suitable platform integration, coordination between firms, and building enough confidence to move from pilots to large-scale adoption.
- Government and regulators are using the framework already. Initiatives such as the Digital Securities Sandbox are helping firms test and deploy digital solutions, while the government plans further legal and regulatory changes to support digital markets beyond the sandbox.
- These major initiatives mean the UK is entering a critical delivery phase with the ambition to make the country a global leader in digital financial markets.