Bank of England Prioritizes Fintech Focus on AI, DLT, Quantum Computing

The Bank of England is expanding its focus on fintech to prioritize artificial intelligence (AI), distributed ledger technology (DLT), and quantum computing across the regulated financial sector.

The central bank defines fintech as 'technology-enabled financial innovation' and says its programme aims to support responsible adoption in the financial system. The work centers on three cross-cutting technologies: AI, DLT, and quantum computing.

In AI, the Bank sees major efficiency gains and productivity boosts, but also notes potential risks for safety and soundness of firms, as well as overall financial stability. To address this, it launched the AI Consortium with the Financial Conduct Authority in May 2025 to gather stakeholder input on AI capabilities, development, deployment, and responsible use.

The Bank is also examining how regulatory and legal frameworks can support DLT adoption, alongside the usability of new forms of digital assets and digital money. It identifies quantum computing as a potentially major technological leap for financial services, marking the start of a longer-term commitment to managing its transformative potential for the UK financial sector and broader economy.