(Spain, November 2020) On 14 November, the Law for the digital transformation of the financial system (the “Law”) was published in the Official State Bulletin (“BOE”).
The Law allows companies to create sandboxes, or controlled testing environments, to enable
financial market operators to implement technology-based financial innovation projects, with the
involvement of the relevant supervisory authorities. Thus, Spain joins a small group of countries
that are launching a pioneering initiative of this kind, which is designed to encourage the
implementation of innovative technological solutions in the area of financial services.
1. Objectives of the Law
The Law has two main objectives:
(i) the facilitation of technology-based financial innovation, in a controlled and secure
environment, through the creation of the sandbox; and
(ii) the improvement of the authorities’ understanding of technology-based financial
innovation that will put them in a better position to understand the implications of the
digital transformation.
2. Creation of the sandbox
The Law establishes, as a central part of the regulations, the creation of sandboxes with the
aim of allowing promoters of technology-based and financially innovative projects to have a
controlled space for testing.
Since access to the sandbox does not entail authorisation to carry out the corresponding
activity, project promoters will not be subject to the legislation applicable to the provision of
the financial services involved for the duration of the trials (they will, however, be subject to
the Law’s own provisions and its implementing regulations). This will make it possible to test
the feasibility of innovative projects in the financial sector without the need for prior
authorisation.
3. System of access to the sandbox
Any interested party may be a promoter (irrespective of whether or not they are already subject
to supervision), launching projects that involve “technology-based innovation applicable to
the financial system”, which includes not only the development of software but also processes
(or methodologies), products or business models that, through the use of technology, may
have an impact on financial markets.
All those projects that provide technology-based innovation applicable to the financial system
and that are at a sufficiently advanced stage to be able to offer a minimum functionality that
allows for the verification of their utility and future viability will have access to the sandbox.
It will also be necessary to demonstrate that the project adds value to existing uses in the
sector in at least one of the following areas:
(i) the facilitation of regulatory compliance through the improvement or homogenisation
of processes or instruments;
(ii) the reduction of costs, improvement of the quality or conditions of access and
availability of financial services or the increased protection of the final customer;
(iii) the improvement of the efficiency of institutions or markets; and/or
(iv) the contribution to the improvement of financial regulation or supervision.
To access this trial environment, the promoter must submit an application using the standard
template published by the General Secretariat of the Treasury and International Finance
(Secretaría General del Tesoro y Financiación Internacional) (“SGTFI”)1, together with a report
supporting the project. Applications may be submitted in any of the official languages of Spain
and in English.
Upon receipt of the application, the SGTFI will send it to the relevant authority (or to all relevant
authorities), which will issue a detailed report within one month (this may be extended by
another month if the number of applications or the complexity of the procedures so requires),
which may be favourable or unfavourable. A list of projects declared favourable will then be
published on the SGTFI’s website.
1 The first additional provision of the Law provides that the SGTFI must approve the standard application form within one month of the entry into force of the standard.
4. Protocol and explanatory document
For projects that receive a favourable preliminary assessment, a test protocol must be
established between the promoter and the responsible supervisory authority or authorities
within three months of the publication of the assessment (the “Protocol”). The purpose of the
protocol is to set out the rules and conditions governing the project.
Before the start of the trials, the promoter must provide users who have agreed to participate in
the project with an explanatory document, written in simple, understandable and accessible
language, stating, among other things, the nature of the trial, the risks and liabilities which
may arise from their participation and the withdrawal period, and must obtain their consent in
writing, preferably in electronic form. The participant must accept the confidentiality of the trial
being carried out and respect the industrial and intellectual property rights or business secrets
of the promoter that may be affected.
5. Guarantee and liability scheme
The Law establishes a guarantee scheme to cover liability for loss and damage that the
promoter may incur in the exercise of the trials in the sandbox, such as insurance, bank
guarantees or deposits.
The Law also establishes a system of strict liability on the part of the promoter for loss and
damage suffered by the project participants arising from (i) a breach of the protocol by the
promoter, (ii) a risk not communicated to the participant, (iii) technical or human error during
the trials or (iv) fault or negligence on the part of the promoter.
6. Exit scheme and access to a fast-track authorisation procedure
During the period of the trials, the promoters may suspend or terminate the pilot project or one
of its trials with just cause. The authority responsible for monitoring may also suspend the
trials if the promoter fails to comply.
One of the most interesting aspects of the sandbox system is that, once the trials have been
completed, the promoter is allowed access to a fast-track authorisation procedure in certain
circumstances. Given the ordinary length of these procedures, this is a welcome development.
7. Communication channel with the authorities
Another of the most interesting new features of the Law is the establishment of a direct
communication channel with the supervisory authorities, through which it will be possible to
submit electronic queries to the supervisory authorities regarding regulatory aspects related to
fintech projects. The authorities must respond to the queries within a maximum period of two months of their submission and their responses will be binding where specific legislation so provides.
Please refer to the infographic here.
For more information,
you can contact:
Carlos Pérez-Dávila
Banking and Finance Partner
[email protected]
T: + 34 91 432 51 00
Andy Ramos
Intellectual Property and Technology Counsel
[email protected]
T: + 34 91 423 20 72