UK’s FCA Sets 2026 Deadline to Fully Regulate Crypto — With New Rules

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is charting a distinct regulatory path for cryptocurrencies, with full implementation targeted for 2026. Unlike traditional finance frameworks, the FCA acknowledges the unique risks and technological foundations of digital assets. "If it’s the same risk, you go for the same regulatory outcome, but some of these things are very different," said David Geale, the FCA’s executive director for payments and digital finance.

The proposed framework will avoid banking-style rules, recognizing crypto’s permissionless architecture and volatility. Key adjustments include relaxed requirements for senior management controls and product oversight, reflecting blockchain’s lack of intermediaries. This tailored approach signals regulators are finally treating crypto as its own asset class rather than forcing legacy templates onto innovative technology.