The UK’s crypto industry has reached what the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) describes as a “significant milestone”, with the timetable now set for a much wider regulatory regime.

From October 2027, crypto firms operating in the UK will need to meet tougher standards around financial resilience, market integrity and consumer protection. The new regime will cover trading platforms, intermediaries, custodians, stablecoin issuers and firms arranging staking.

Importantly, firms carrying out these activities will need FCA authorisation to operate in the UK.

There is some time to prepare. Applications will open on 30 September 2026 and close on 28 February 2027, ahead of the new rules becoming mandatory from October 2027.

The FCA says the measures follow a series of consultations with the industry, with changes made to ensure the regime works in practice rather than simply adding another layer of regulation.

For example, capital requirements for stablecoin firms have been simplified, while trading rules have been adapted to better reflect the way crypto markets actually operate.

Stablecoins themselves will also come under clearer standards. These are crypto assets designed to maintain a stable value, usually by being linked to a currency such as sterling or the US dollar. The FCA believes clearer rules should help build trust in how stablecoins are used over time.

Another significant area is market abuse. The new regime will introduce rules covering issues such as insider dealing and market manipulation, alongside further guidance on inside information, legitimate market practice, best execution and how firms should monitor trading activity.

Businesses safeguarding qualifying crypto assets will also face dedicated client asset rules, reflecting the particular risks involved in holding these assets on behalf of customers.

For now, however, the FCA’s oversight of the crypto sector remains relatively limited, covering financial promotions and anti-money laundering controls until October 2027.

There’s clearly still some way to go before the full regime takes effect, but for businesses operating in the crypto sector, the direction of travel is now much clearer. With the application window opening in September 2026, firms affected by the changes should be thinking about what the new requirements will mean for them well before the October 2027 deadline.



Need to talk through what changes affecting your business could mean for your finances? Get in touch.