Law 7/2020 of 13 November 2020 on the digital transformation of the financial system (only in Spanish) (hereafter, Law 7/2020) regulates a controlled testing environment (known as a sandbox) for technological innovations applicable to the financial system. Sandbox testing is monitored by the Banco de España, the CNMV and the DGSFP, as the competent supervisory authorities in this area.
The Banco de España’s sandbox tasks include:
- Assessing the projects for which it has been designated the competent authority, pursuant to Article 7(2) of Law 7/2020.
- Signing a testing protocol with the promoter(s) of projects with a favourable prior assessment.
- Approving the single information document template.
- Acknowledging the statement of responsibility in which the promoters certify that they have obtained the participants’ informed consent and have activated the system of guarantees and compensation envisaged.
- Designating one or more monitors to observe the tests included in the pilot project.
- Receiving the post-testing report prepared by the promoter.
- Analysing the test results and drafting a findings document about how the tests were carried out and their outcome.
Target audience: Any natural or legal person, individually or jointly with others, including technological firms, financial institutions, credit servicers, interest representatives, public or private research centres and any other interested party that has applied for sandbox access for a project that has received a favourable prior assessment by the Banco de España (either separately or jointly with the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) or the Directorate General of Insurance and Pension Funds (DGSFP).