What is the FCA regulatory sandbox? Testing fintech with real customers
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
The FCA regulatory sandbox lets firms test new financial products with real customers, for a limited time and with safeguards in place. The UK's Financial Conduct Authority opened it in 2016, and many regulators around the world have since copied the idea.
How the sandbox works
- A firm applies with a genuinely new idea that benefits consumers.
- The FCA accepts a group of firms and agrees the terms of each test.
- The firm tests its product with real customers, with limits and protections in place.
- At the end, the firm and FCA review the results before any wider launch.
What firms get
Access to FCA staff for guidance, a clearer path to authorisation where needed, and the chance to learn how customers really use a product before a full launch.
What it isn't
The sandbox isn't a way round the rules. Firms still need the right permissions, customers keep their protections, and tests are closely watched.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay lets you launch your own branded platform with GBP, EUR and USD accounts, transfers and branded Visa cards, powered by licensed partners, so you can get to market without building everything yourself.
Build it
Create your own financial platform.
Pick a template, name it, brand it, preview every page before you pay. Your brand, your users, your fees.
Build my platform →Questions people ask
What is an e-money agent?
A business that offers payment services through a licensed EMI.
EMI agents →What is a white-label fintech platform?
A ready-made platform you launch under your own brand.
White-label fintech →Read next
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.