The commission introduced a number of tailored regimes in 2025, including the completion of the Applications & Authorisations Portal, giving industry a more user-friendly way to submit applications and communicate with the commission. By the end of the year, more than 220 applications had been received through the portal.
‘2025 was a year when much of the conventional policy wisdom of the last couple of decades was quite firmly discarded, for better or worse,’ said director general William Mason.
It also launched the Digital Finance Initiative, working with industry through the Digital Forum to develop Guernsey as a destination of choice for digital finance, while a Sandbox and Concierge service to engage innovators, apply standards flexibly for novel business models, and help applicants through authorisation without lowering safeguards, was launched in October. The Financial Crime Handbook has also been updated to encourage technology-enabled compliance.
‘On a global basis, we appear to be in a period of intense change, possibly more intense than most of us have witnessed before as both AI evolution and adoption accelerated,’ said Mr Mason.
‘All firms need to consider this and how to preserve and enhance the Bailiwick’s competitive positioning.’
The commission continued to work to maintain a credible and internationally respected regulatory framework, while helping to ensure Guernsey remains a stable, competitive and forward-looking jurisdiction.
‘In 2025, the commission, having successfully concluded the Moneyval evaluation with the strong Moneyval AMLCFT report published in February which secured the foundations of our prosperity, we were able to refocus our finite capacities on what regulatory environment would be optimal for Guernsey’s long-term competitiveness over the next decade or so, taking into account the considerably changed international environment,’ said Mr Mason. ‘Over the course of the year we made considerable improvements, working in partnership with thoughtful industry actors, the States and Guernsey Finance. We look forward to delivering further beneficial reforms through 2026 and beyond.’
Commission chairman John Aspden said: ‘The commission has continued to deliver strong regulatory outcomes while remaining responsive to change in the external environment. Our focus is on maintaining the Bailiwick’s reputation as a well-regulated and forward-looking jurisdiction, while supporting sustainable growth and protecting users of financial services.’
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