Great Britain lays the foundations for comprehensive crypto oversight by 2027

The official approval of the regulatory framework for crypto assets marked a turning point in the development of the UK financial industry. On December 15, the Treasury submitted to Parliament the package of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025, which defines a new operational framework for digital assets in the country.

### What changes to expect for crypto companies

The proposed legal framework covers a wide range of operations in the crypto sector. These include activities of cryptocurrency trading platforms, issuance and management of qualified stablecoins, digital asset custody services, transaction organization, and staking services. Each of these categories will now have a clearly defined status under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority.

The structure also includes detailed disclosure and authorization requirements for market participants. Legislators paid special attention to combating market manipulation by establishing quantitative thresholds for legitimate market practices and allowing authorized companies to exchange data about potential violations and various types of misconduct in trading activities.

### When the new system will be operational

Although most provisions will come into effect on October 25, 2027, the preparation process will begin much earlier. The FCA has been granted authority to start developing detailed rules, conduct industry consultations, and organize preparatory work at this stage. This gives crypto companies over two years to adapt their operations to the new requirements.

### How this affects business

The UK strategy reflects an effort to bring the cryptocurrency sector up to the standards applied in traditional financial markets. According to experts at Norton Rose Fulbright, the new rules demonstrate "clear parallels" with existing mechanisms for market admission, disclosure, and manipulation control, which are already applied to banks and brokers.

This alignment of norms promotes legal certainty for companies and enhances consumer protection. At the same time, it is part of FCA’s broader strategy to expand retail investor participation in the financial market. According to the regulator, the level of investment activity among the adult population of the UK is about 25%, indicating significant growth potential.

Officials see the regulated crypto market as a tool to overcome these barriers and attract new participants to the country’s financial system.