UK FCA Publishes Guidance on Regulating the Crypto Market

• The FCA explained which types of crypto company activities will require authorization under the new regime.
• Applications for authorization will open on September 30, 2026, and the regime itself will take effect on October 25, 2027.
• The guidance covers, among other things, stablecoins, trading platforms, deal execution, custody services, and staking.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published new guidance on how the legislation underpinning the country’s upcoming cryptoasset regulatory regime will be applied.

The documents are intended to help crypto companies determine how the new rules will apply to their activities and which services will require FCA authorization.

Authorization applications to open in September

The new cryptoasset regulatory regime will take effect on October 25, 2027. At the same time, companies will be able to submit authorization applications starting on September 30, 2026.

The FCA’s published guidance covers a range of activities, including the issuance of qualifying stablecoins, operating cryptoasset trading platforms, executing deals and arranging their execution, safeguarding cryptoassets, and arranging staking.

David Geale, the FCA’s executive director for consumers, payments, and competition, said that understanding the new regime is a necessary part of companies’ preparation for authorization.

“We are building a cryptoasset regulatory regime that firms, consumers, and international partners can trust. Preparing for regulation starts with understanding how this regime applies to your business. This guidance gives firms the clarity they asked for, so they can prepare with confidence,” he said.

The publication of the guidance continues the FCA’s work on preparing the new regime. In June 2026, the regulator finalized the rules and instructions. The FCA is also running pre-application consultations and topical webinars to help companies prepare for authorization.

Meanwhile, the UK government adopted targeted changes to the legislation. They provide certain limited exemptions and additional clarifications for some technical service providers.

According to the FCA, these changes will not affect most crypto companies. The regulator plans to consult in October on targeted updates to the published guidance, taking into account the legislative changes that have been introduced.

As a reminder, in early 2026, Ripple received FCA registration for crypto operations in the United Kingdom.

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