A thought leadership series on the future of finance and regulation

From breakthrough innovations to regulatory rethinks, this series features long- and short-form pieces by CCAF staff, fellows, and research affiliates – writing in a personal capacity.

Articles explore the fast-evolving intersections of financial innovation, market structure, policy and regulation, and the shifting systems that connect them. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance.

Woman looking at financial screens.

Explore the series

As digital identity and e-KYC systems evolve globally, understanding shared adoption drivers, challenges and emerging trends across countries and stakeholders is essential to building inclusive and trusted ecosystems.

Financial Innovation for Impact (Fii) in collaboration with the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), has launched the Global e-KYC Landscape Study. It captures intersecting perspectives of public authorities, regulators and supervisors, and industry (fintechs, banks, other financial institutions and digital ID service providers) via 2 parallel surveys. The resulting insights will provide a holistic view of e-KYC landscape and adoption dynamics today.

Woman using authentication on a financial account via a laptop.

Fragmentation between data protection and financial regulatory frameworks is increasing compliance burdens and slowing the development of safe, data-driven financial services. Learn what joined-up oversight would look like in practice.

Data analyst using a computer to extract and analyse information using AI technology.

An analysis of AI and blockchain convergence, covering compute infrastructure, crypto assets, autonomous agents and emerging policy challenges by Wenbin Wu, Research Associate at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance.

Stock market trading on a mobile phone.

Crypto mixers are back but different, say Wenbin Wu and Keith Bear from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Cambridge Judge Business School. After 2022 sanctions scattered the market, compliant privacy protocols now dominate.

Screen displaying quantum threat timeline report.

Industry leaders face a choice: act now or risk the integrity of blockchain-based markets and digital currencies, says Wenbin Wu, Research Associate at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Cambridge Judge Business School. Here we reveal regulators’ and policymakers’ bridging roles for quantum-resilient blockchains, and the importance of collaboration by technologists, economists, and regulators in the quantum age of financial technology.

Kieran Garvey, AI Research Lead at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), and Bryan Zhang, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CCAF, explore why banks struggle to turn AI efficiency into growth.

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