Securing Compliance in a Fragmented World: Key Insights from GRTS25 for Financial Services

From the first session, it was clear: This year’s Global RegTech Summit (GRTS25) on May 20 in London wasn’t just another regulatory checkbox event. It was a wake-up call for where the industry is headed—and where it must go next.

We had the pleasure of joining this year’s event with a full presence: exhibition stand, 5-minute pitch, and a main-stage presentation. The conversations we had and heard were direct. The questions were tough. And the appetite for practical, forward-looking solutions was stronger than ever. At the core of them was one question: How do we stay compliant in a world that won’t sit still? 

Three major themes that stood out 

From AI in governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) to the rising urgency of regulatory change management, the GRTS25 was packed with insights that hit home. Talks weren’t just theoretical—they were practical, honest, and at times, even provocative.  

Here are the key themes that stood out—and why we think they’ll shape the year ahead. 

1 – Geopolitics are reshaping regulation

In a standout keynote address, Rory Stewart delivered a powerful analysis of today’s global unpredictability. AI innovation is outpacing governance, global cooperation is fraying, and public trust in government is declining. We’re seeing the rise of protectionism, authoritarianism, and isolationism.  

This volatility is making its way into regulatory frameworks, creating a U-shaped divergence: Some jurisdictions loosen rules to boost innovation, others tighten them in response to risk and public pressure.

The industry is caught between laissez-faire chaos and overregulation. Stewart stressed that it will take brave leadership—in politics, tech, and finance alike—to find balance. 

2 – AI’s real power lies in how we manage it

While artificial intelligence has moved beyond the innovation labs and into day-to-day operations, many firms are still figuring out where it fits and how to govern it responsibly.

Speakers across several panels emphasized the importance of human-AI collaboration. The goal isn’t to replace analysts and compliance officers—it’s to augment their decision-making, increase the speed and coverage of risk detection, and support better strategic outcomes.

What’s needed now is clarity:

• Who is using AI, and where?
• What governance structures are in place?
• How are risks around bias, accountability, and explainability being managed?
  
  

Firms that get this right will move faster—and smarter. 

3 – Visibility remains the ultimate ROI

PwC's Global Compliance Survey 2025 confirmed what many of us feel: RegTech is most valuable when it improves risk visibility. This comes ahead of productivity gains, faster reporting, or better response times.

Technology that helps compliance teams see clearly—across data, decisions, and dependencies—is the kind that earns lasting trust. 

Our take: The cloud divide is bigger than ever  

In our own session, we shared exclusive findings from our latest survey with compliance leaders in the financial industry, revealing a growing divergence in cloud strategies. This isn’t about fear of innovation. It’s about control, resilience, and audit readiness—and it's reshaping how firms think about tech stacks for regulated communications. 

The feedback we received afterward? Let’s just say we hit a nerve—and we’re excited to share more soon in our white paper.

Carrying the conversation forward

What made GRTS25 truly exceptional wasn’t just the forward-thinking panels or the sharp insights from industry leaders—it was the invaluable conversations we were lucky to share with fellow professionals. We're grateful to have been part of the dialogue on how financial services can stay ahead of regulation without falling behind on innovation. This is a conversation the industry can’t afford to pause, so let’s keep it going.