Finance
British regulator kicks off consultation on new crypto rules
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 16, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 16, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
The FCA has started a consultation on new crypto regulations to protect consumers and support innovation in the UK, with feedback due by February 2026.
LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - British regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a wide-ranging consultation on a range of proposed rules for the crypto industry on Tuesday, a day after the government said the industry would be regulated from October 2027.
The FCA set out its proposals alongside research that shows that the proportion of UK adults holding crypto has fallen by a third, from 12% to 8% in the past year.
Watchdogs globally are playing catch-up on rules for the crypto industry, with Britain seeking to align its regulation with the U.S. rather than the European Union.
The FCA said on Tuesday that its rules would cover listings for crypto assets, measures to stop insider trading and manipulation, standards for crypto trading platforms and rules for brokers.
It is also consulting on prudential requirements, regulations to make the risks clearer on crypto staking, better protections for crypto lenders and borrowers and potential financial safeguards for crypto firms to manage risks.
"Regulation is coming – and we want to get it right. We’ve listened to feedback, and now we’re setting out our proposals for the UK’s crypto regime," said David Geale, executive director for payments and digital finance at the FCA.
"Our goal is to have a regime that protects consumers, supports innovation and promotes trust. We welcome feedback to help us finalise these rules."
The FCA is seeking feedback on its proposals before a February 12, 2026, deadline. The regulator has promised to finalise the regime by the end of next year.
(Reporting by Iain Withers and Phoebe SeersEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is a regulatory body in the UK that oversees financial markets and firms to ensure consumer protection and promote competition.
Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual currencies that use cryptography for security and operate on decentralized networks based on blockchain technology.
Consumer protection in finance involves laws and regulations designed to ensure the rights of consumers are upheld and they are treated fairly by financial institutions.
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