The FCA has now finalised its full cryptoasset rulebook… capital requirements, market abuse rules, stablecoin standards, the lot. Firms apply for authorisation from September 2026, full regime kicks in October 2027. Is this genuinely going to make the UK a trusted, competitive home for crypto, or will it just push smaller firms and innovation offshore?
I think regulatory clarity is what’s been missing for years. Firms currently operate in a grey zone with only AML and promotions rules applying. Having a proper authorisation gateway means consumers finally get something closer to normal financial services protection
Now watch smaller startups relocate to Dubai or Singapore. The capital and prudential requirements read like they were written for banks, not a five-person DeFi startup. Compliance cost alone will kill a lot of early stage firms before they ever launch.
As someone who’s seen friends lose money to dodgy platforms, I’m relieved. Market abuse rules covering insider dealing and manipulation are long overdue. Crypto exchanges have basically operated like unregulated stock markets until now.
Genuinely mixed on this. Good in principle, but two things worry me: implementation drags to 2027, and the UK still risks looking slower and more cautious than competitors trying to attract crypto business right now
This is regulatory capture waiting to happen. Big compliant players will lobby to keep the bar high enough to lock out new entrants. Consumer protection is often just an excuse to entrench incumbents SMH…
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