Push Labs Limited and Push Virtual Assets Limited, UK subsidiaries of Aave Labs, have secured registration as cryptoasset exchange providers from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The approval, announced alongside the group’s existing Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorisation, creates a robust dual-permissioned framework for regulated crypto services in the UK.
The development marks a significant step in Aave Labs’ strategy to bridge decentralised finance (DeFi) with traditional financial regulations, facilitating mainstream adoption through compliant, user-friendly products.
The FCA registration allows Push to operate as a cryptoasset exchange provider, covering key activities such as exchanging cryptoassets for fiat and vice versa. Combined with the existing EMI licence under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, this authorisation empowers the entities to issue electronic money and build comprehensive fiat-to-crypto infrastructure.
UK Regulatory Milestone Enables Full-Stack Fiat-to-Crypto Infrastructure
This dual framework positions Push to deliver secure, regulated on-and-off ramping services with zero fees, a key differentiator in a market often dominated by high spreads and processing costs on centralised exchanges.
The approvals align with the FCA’s mandate to safeguard market integrity, protect consumers, and promote competition in the financial system. For Aave Labs, it provides the foundation to expand consumer-focused products in the UK, where crypto regulation continues to evolve toward a fuller financial services regime expected in 2026.
In the statement shared with The Crypto Times, Stani Kulechov, Founder and CEO of Aave Labs, emphasised the importance of this milestone. “We are pleased to now be registered as cryptoasset service providers in the UK. Our FCA EMI authorisation and cryptoasset registrations provide the regulatory foundation to deliver next-generation, zero-fee onchain consumer financial products in the UK,” he said.
Aave, originally launched in 2017 as ETHLend by Kulechov and rebranded in 2020, has grown into one of the largest DeFi lending protocols. It enables non-custodial borrowing and lending across multiple blockchains, with trillions in cumulative deposits and borrows.
The protocol’s native stablecoin GHO stands to benefit directly from seamless fiat integration, lowering barriers for new users entering the onchain economy.
Synergies with European Expansion Under MiCAR
This UK progress builds directly on Aave Labs’ European momentum. In November 2025, Push Virtual Assets Ireland Limited obtained Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) from the Central Bank of Ireland.
This license enables passporting across the European Economic Area (EEA), allowing compliant deployment of crypto services region-wide.
The Irish authorisation has already unlocked zero-fee on-and-off ramping for GHO and other stablecoins, converting between euros and digital assets under high standards of consumer protection and transparency. Together, the UK and EEA permissions create a cohesive regulatory backbone for Push by Aave Labs, supporting scalable product development across major markets.
This coordinated approach reflects broader industry trends. As regulators worldwide tighten oversight on crypto, firms like Aave Labs are prioritising compliance to access institutional and retail capital. The UK’s framework, while currently focused on anti-money laundering registration, paves the way for deeper integration as full authorisation regimes roll out.
Strategic Vision: Blending Open Blockchain with Regulated Finance
Aave Labs’ strategy centres on pairing decentralized blockchain infrastructure with regulated financial services. By establishing Push as a compliant onramp, the company aims to onboard the next million users to onchain finance.
Zero-fee stablecoin services lower entry costs dramatically compared to traditional fintech or exchange offerings, potentially accelerating DeFi adoption for everyday savings, lending, and payments.
Looking ahead, these approvals support Aave’s 2026 roadmap pillars, including Aave V4 for enhanced capital efficiency, institutional-grade offerings for real-world assets (RWAs), and a consumer-first Aave App.
With lifetime deposits exceeding trillions and strong TVL rankings, Aave remains a DeFi leader. Regulatory clarity in the UK and EU strengthens its position to expand beyond pure DeFi into hybrid models that appeal to traditional finance players.
For the broader crypto ecosystem, such moves signal maturation. Successful navigation of FCA and MiCAR processes demonstrates that DeFi protocols can operate within regulatory guardrails without sacrificing core innovation.
Consumers gain trusted access to yield-generating products, while the industry benefits from reduced compliance risks.
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