Anthropic joins FCA Supercharged Sandbox

Anthropic will provide access to its Claude Code and Claude Cowork platforms to participants in the Financial Conduct Authority’s Supercharged Sandbox so firms can test AI tools and prototypes within a regulated setting.

The Supercharged Sandbox is a controlled programme run by the FCA that allows firms to experiment with advanced artificial intelligence under regulatory oversight. For the second cohort the FCA received 199 applications and selected 21 firms to develop and trial live prototypes and pilot services.

Selected participants include calQrisk, Merx Digital Solutions (SmartDrops), Aegis Trace, Sardine AI, Zquas, Trustie Labs, Welleness, IntelXview, RMI Agentic, Ubyx (partnering with Amazon), Deepflow, FSCom, GAI Labs, Condukt, Kaption and Relace.

Anthropic joins Naya One and Nvidia as technology partners providing infrastructure and tools to firms in the programme.

Participants will use the platforms to build and test systems such as agent-led payments, fraud detection models, AI governance and accountability frameworks, tools to streamline compliance, and solutions aimed at widening access for financially excluded people. Firms will be able to trial integrations and agent-based workflows while remaining subject to FCA oversight and guardrails designed to protect consumers and markets.

Jessica Rusu, the FCA’s chief data, intelligence and information officer, commented: “The high level of interest in the Supercharged Sandbox demonstrates the demand for trusted environments where firms can experiment safely and responsibly. With the support of Anthropic, participants will benefit from the technology they need to accelerate innovation.”

Alongside the Sandbox, the FCA has launched an Agentic Academy, a 10-week specialist AI programme delivered with the Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship. The academy will offer selected firms practical guidance on deploying agentic systems and meeting regulatory expectations for safety, transparency and accountability while testing new AI applications in financial services.