UK FCA Seeks Organizations for 2027 Quantum Crime Detection Test

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates the country’s financial services sector, is inviting UK organizations to test whether quantum machine learning can help detect money laundering and fraud.

The FCA announced its Quantum Experimentation Group on Nov. 5 and plans to launch it in the first quarter of 2027. Participants will work on a defined financial-crime problem using synthetic data created by the regulator, then compare quantum approaches with classical techniques in early-stage experiments.

The invitation is open to UK financial services firms, quantum computing providers and research labs. Registering interest does not guarantee a place, and participation will not constitute FCA approval or endorsement of any participant, technology or solution. Organizations can register interest through Dec. 31, 2026.

“We want to help firms explore where quantum could make a meaningful difference,” said Jessica Rusu, the FCA’s chief data, information and intelligence officer.

The group builds on the FCA’s research into quantum computing’s long-term potential in financial services. The regulator published a research note on possible applications in the sector on Oct. 2, 2025. It plans to provide more information on selection and participation as the program develops.

Separately, FCA Director of Specialists Mark Francis urged firms on Nov. 4 to prepare for post-quantum cryptography. The migration timeline sets 2028 for an initial plan, 2031 for high-priority migration work and 2035 for migration across all systems, services and products.