UK MARC: From Market Abuse Rules to Effective Surveillance
As crypto asset markets mature and regulatory scrutiny increases, firms operating in the sector must be prepared to identify, prevent, and respond to market abuse risks. Whether you are a Crypto-Asset Trading Platform (CATP), intermediary, or another market participant, understanding your obligations and how they translate into effective surveillance arrangements is critical to maintaining market integrity and regulatory compliance.
In this webinar, we will explore the fundamentals of market abuse, including key behaviours and typologies identified by regulators, supported by practical examples from crypto markets. The discussion will consider some of the challenges firms may face in distinguishing potentially abusive behaviour from legitimate trading activity, as well as the controls that can help firms identify and respond to risks such as market manipulation and insider dealing.
We will also discuss the surveillance systems, controls and data that firms may need to support effective monitoring under MARC. This will include practical considerations for CATPs and intermediaries, such as monitoring trading activity, identifying suspicious behaviour, investigating alerts and sharing relevant information. The panel will also explore the additional considerations that may arise for larger trading platforms, including cross-market and on-chain activity and information sharing between market participants.
The session will consider how firms can translate regulatory requirements into proportionate and effective surveillance frameworks, including the role of technology, data and human analysis. Where time allows, the panel may also reflect on the market abuse provisions under MiCA Title VI and the extent to which approaches developed for the EU regime may inform firms' preparations for MARC.
By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of market abuse risks in crypto markets, the practical surveillance challenges created by MARC, and the steps their organisations can take to build and maintain an effective compliance framework.
Speakers:
Andrzej Wieckowski — Partner, Financial Services Regulation, TLT LLP
Nicola Barrett — Chief Compliance Officer, EMEA and UK MLRO, B2C2
Daniel Taylor — Policy & Regulatory Strategy Lead, Zumo
Delphine Forma — Head of Policy APAC & Europe, Solidus Labs (Guest Moderator)