LSE:888 News 6 December 2025

February 6, 2026, 9:20 AM EST. UK Finance forecasts significant shifts in the UK financial sector by 2026, driven by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) like blockchain. Key collaborations, including 30 banks partnering with Swift, are integrating DLT into global networks. Regulatory moves such as the Digital Securities Sandbox and AI Consortium aim to balance innovation and oversight. Widespread AI and blockchain adoption boosts risk assessment, fraud detection, and asset digitization but intensifies cybersecurity and data privacy challenges. Firms face tension between blockchain's transparent ledgers and confidentiality needs. The rise of quantum threats propels development of quantum-proof defenses. Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) like secure multiparty computation and zero-knowledge proofs enable ethical data use, meeting regulatory standards while advancing efficiency. UK Finance stresses integrating data protection early to support innovation and consumer rights in evolving financial frameworks.