The Finance Shelf

Experimental Regulation in Brazil: Between Expectations and International Evidence (Revista Conjuntura Econômica)

Research paperRevista Conjuntura EconômicaNovember 20264 pages6 min readCristiane Alkmin Junqueira SchmidtOriginal source
Key number
15% %
Average increase in capital raised by sandbox firms p.3
What changed
50% %
Increase in probability of obtaining financing p.3
Largest segment
36 months
Maximum duration of ANP pilot regulation framework p.2

Summary

  • The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposed the regulatory sandbox concept to the UK Treasury in 2015 to foster fintech innovation post-2008 crisis.p.1
  • Over 50 countries adopted regulatory sandbox mechanisms in the decade following 2016.p.2
  • ANP opened Public Consultation nº 18/2026 on 9/9/2026 with a contribution deadline of 26/10/26 to structure experimental regulation.p.2
  • ANP's sandbox framework allows normative derogations for up to 24 months, extendable for an equal period.p.2
  • ANP proposed a pilot regulation instrument allowing a temporary regulatory framework lasting up to 36 months.p.2
  • A study by Cornelli et al. showed that firms entering the UK sandbox raised on average 15% more capital with a 50% higher probability of obtaining funding.p.3
  • Aneel approved its tariff sandbox governance in 2022 and presented initial sandbox results in March 2026.p.3

Key insights

  1. Experimental regulation provides controlled environments to test normative rules, mitigating regulatory obsolescence caused by rapid technological pace.p.1
  2. Regulatory sandboxes quickly expanded globally after 2016, being adopted by more than 50 countries.p.2
  3. The ANP draft framework categorizes experimental regulation into three distinct instruments: regulatory sandbox, pilot project, and pilot regulation.p.2
  4. Firm-level capital gains inside a sandbox do not necessarily translate into systemic regulatory learning for the overall legal framework.p.3
  5. Evidence regarding sandbox effectiveness in the energy sector remains sparser than in the financial sector, leading to increased regulatory caution.p.3
  6. Great Britain's Ofgem has maintained an Energy Regulation Sandbox since 2017 and introduced a Future Regulation Sandbox proposal in 2023.p.3
  7. Aneel and ANP are currently leading experimental regulation initiatives among Brazilian regulatory agencies.p.3
  8. A key missing element in Aneel's tariff sandboxes is independent evaluation demonstrating how trial results translate into broader tariff regulation changes.p.4
  9. The author proposes establishing a unified general normative framework across all Brazilian regulatory agencies to standardize governance and share lessons.p.4

Topics and entities

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