Crypto & Digital Assets - United Kingdom

DevelopingToday: FCA registration under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (AML/CTF only). Incoming: full conduct regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025 + FCA Handbook rules (made under FSMA 2000 as amended by FSMA 2023).

The UK currently operates a limited regime: crypto exchanges and custodian wallet providers must register with the FCA solely for anti-money-laundering supervision under the MLRs 2017 — there is no general conduct, prudential or market-integrity authorisation yet. A comprehensive financial-services regime was finalised in draft in December 2025 (HM Treasury's Cryptoassets Regulations 2025 plus three FCA consultations, CP25/40-42), creating new FCA-authorised activities such as operating a trading platform, dealing, custody and staking, with full commencement on 25 October 2027. Until then the in-force obligations are AML registration, the Travel Rule and the financial-promotions regime.

Machine-assisted translation · verified 5/23/2026 · orientation, not legal advice. English version →