Banking & Finance

Investments and Securities Act 2025

Repeals ISA 2007. Introduces a modernised securities regime — recognises digital assets, expands SEC powers, formalises commodities trading.

Signed
2025-03-29
Status
In force

1 Background

The ISA 2025 replaces the 18-year-old Investments and Securities Act 2007. It expands SEC's jurisdiction to digital assets (cryptocurrency exchanges, tokenised securities) for the first time in primary legislation, formalises the regulatory framework for commodity exchanges, and tightens the enforcement regime against Ponzi schemes — making them explicitly criminal with stiffer penalties. It also recognises systemically important capital market operators with bespoke prudential requirements.

2 Key provisions (6)

01
Digital assets (including cryptocurrency) explicitly within SEC jurisdiction
02
Commodities exchanges formally regulated
03
Ponzi/Hyip schemes explicitly criminalised with 10-year imprisonment
04
Investor Protection Fund expanded
05
Bespoke rules for systemically important capital market operators
06
Tokenised securities recognised

3 What changed in practice

SEC now has clear statutory authority over crypto exchanges (before, it was administrative guidance)
Several Ponzi-scheme operators charged under the new Act (CBEX collapse, 2025)
AfriEx, Yellow Card and other digital-asset firms now register under primary legislation

4 Who it affects

Capital market operatorsCrypto exchangesRetail investorsCommodity traders

5 What it repealed / replaced

Other laws in Banking & Finance