The UK asset management regulatory framework continues to evolve as post-Brexit reforms move from policy design into implementation. Developments across disclosure, governance, sustainability, market infrastructure and emerging asset classes are reshaping regulatory expectations for UK and international asset managers alike.
This guide provides a practical overview of key UK regulatory developments during 2025 that are most relevant to the asset management industry, alongside an outlook on what firms should be preparing for in 2026. It focuses on changes that have real operational and governance implications, drawing together rulemaking, consultations, supervisory priorities and market reforms into a single, accessible resource.
The FCA’s evolving supervisory priorities for asset managers and alternatives
Sustainability, ESG and defence-related regulatory developments
Retail disclosure reform and Consumer Duty-related changes
Governance, conduct and individual accountability, including SM&CR and non-financial misconduct
Markets, trading and infrastructure reform, including the transition to T+1 settlement
Overseas market access, equivalence and mutual recognition frameworks
The development of the UK cryptoasset regulatory regime
Key areas moving from consultation to implementation in 2026
