HOW WE APPROACH CLIENT ASSET SAFETY

At a time when digital finance demands uncompromising security and transparency, BCB Group stands out as a pioneer in safeguarding client assets from day one. 

A combination of factors, including regulatory scrutiny, poor practices among firms, and the growing use of digital payment platforms has turned safeguarding into a top-tier issue, central to consumer trust, operational resilience and regulatory compliance. Firms must adapt quickly, or face penalties and reputational damage.

Safety from day one

At BCB Group, “safety from day one” reflects our commitment to regulatory-first principles and institutional-grade infrastructure. From the outset, clients operate within a secure, compliant environment designed for the digital asset economy. Our platform is built to meet high standards in risk management, legal oversight and financial operations. All of which ensures trust and reliability for clients, from their first interaction.

Our systems architecture is designed to facilitate those technological safeguards. The unified platform integrates fiat, stablecoins and crypto through a single interface, supported by virtual IBANs and BLINC instant payments. This infrastructure enables 24/7/365 settlement, minimises counterparty risk, and ensures seamless, secure transactions across jurisdictions and asset classes.

Staying ahead of the regulatory curve

In 2025, regulators such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced stricter safeguarding rules to address systemic weaknesses in how payment and e-money firms protect customer funds. A series of failures in fund segregation and insolvency risks exposed consumers to significant financial harm; only 65% of funds were returned on average between 2018 and 2023. 

However, big changes are expected in May 2026 when the FCA introduces tougher safeguarding rules for payment firms, designed to protect consumers and ensure fast access to funds if things go wrong. This will align with the Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS), which we believe will raise standards across the sector. 

BCB Group is already conducting independent annual safeguarding audits and leveraging leadership with CASS expertise. This proactive approach – part of our foundational philosophy – allows us to adapt swiftly to evolving regulations while upholding institutional-grade standards.

Our safeguarding approach extends beyond fiat currency too. Oversight by both the FCA and France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) ensures clients benefit from comprehensive regulatory coverage.

While the FCA’s remit currently excludes crypto, the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation includes it. As Oliver Tonkin, Chief Executive of BCB Group, explained: “Our MiCA license application is well advanced, and we have what is needed in place for that in terms of the partners we use, the segregation of client wallets, reconciliations and so on. So, we are very much ahead of the curve on that too.”

Risk management values

Safeguarding isn’t static; it requires constant vigilance and transparency, which is why BCB Group embeds risk management into its core operations. We monitor transactions and enforce anti-money laundering protocols to ensure operational integrity. This infrastructure supports real-time settlement and transparency, reducing exposure and enhancing control across all financial activities.

Meanwhile, our compliance team operates a transaction monitoring system, which enables our experts to escalate and investigate risks with precision. So employees are not only aware of best practices, but they are also empowered to act on them.

We also conduct ongoing audits and engage clients to ensure safeguards against risks such as Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud.  For clients entering the digital assets space, we demand proof of strong risk management such as safeguarding audits, AML certifications and ISO 27001 credentials. 

At BCB Group, robust compliance isn’t just a safeguard: it’s the backbone of our ecosystem. Our fee-free instant payments network, BLINC, is a prime example. It thrives on mutual confidence: knowing that every participant has passed rigorous due diligence. 

This shared foundation of integrity ensures that BLINC remains fast, secure and reliable, empowering our clients to transact with confidence and clarity. By setting the bar high, we create a network where compliance isn’t a hurdle, but a strategic advantage.

Client onboarding: asset safety as a priority

From the moment they onboard with us, clients are introduced to BCB’s secure ecosystem. The process includes direct engagement with account management and trading teams, which helps provide the clarity they need on risk protocols and operational safeguards. Integrated payment accounts and BLINC enable instant, fee-free transfers, reinforcing asset safety and operational efficiency from day one. 

Building a culture of trust is a natural follow-on from all the above. BCB Group embeds safety into daily operations by treating compliance and safeguarding as foundational disciplines – and not optional extras. 

Internally, this culture is reinforced through rigorous onboarding processes, daily reconciliations and independent safeguarding audits; not just regulatory requirements but operational norms. Key to this is how employees stay informed through ongoing training programmes, regular updates from compliance leadership, and active engagement with evolving regulations like MiCA and AMLA.

This cultural commitment to trust and transparency ensures we at BCB Group provide consistency and integrity in every client interaction.