SEC Vows Balanced Regulation to Support Fintech Growth

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairperson Francis Lim assures the country's financial technology sector of the commission's fairness in regulating digital innovations.

- Richmond Mercurio

Acknowledging that technology is transforming finance at a breathtaking pace, Lim said that regulations should not be seen as a brake on progress but as a platform for innovation and growth.

"But while the channels change, our duty as regulators does not: markets must always be fair, transparent and safe for all," Lim said in a speech during the Manila Tech Summit 2025.

"That is why our principle is simple: same activity, same risk, same regulatory outcome. The SEC is technology-neutral, but never risk-blind," he said.

Lim said that through the SEC's regulatory sandbox, fintech pioneers can safely test new ideas with investor safeguards without fear of premature enforcement.