Key Highlights
- FCA guidance explains which crypto businesses will need authorisation under the UK’s new rules.
- Applications for FCA authorisation open on September 30, 2026, ahead of the full regime in October 2027.
- The new rules come as the UK increases efforts to tackle money laundering involving crypto, fintech and AI.
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released new guidance explaining how the country’s future crypto rules will apply to businesses.
According to the press release, the guidance was issued on September 16, 2026, ahead of the new regime taking effect on October 25, 2027. It also explains how firms can prepare for FCA approval.
The guidance comes at an important point for crypto businesses operating in the UK. The FCA will begin accepting applications for authorisation on September 30, 2026, giving firms time to apply before the new regime takes effect. Businesses can now check whether the services they offer will require approval from the regulator.
The FCA said the guidance covers activities including issuing qualifying stablecoins, operating cryptoasset trading platforms, dealing and arranging deals, safeguarding cryptoassets and arranging cryptoasset staking.
More crypto firms may need approval
Meanwhile, the rules will not only affect companies that were created around crypto. Overseas firms that provide services to UK customers, e-money issuers and traditional financial companies that are moving into crypto markets may also need to check whether they require FCA authorisation.
One point the regulator wants firms to understand is that having existing registration does not automatically mean they are approved under the new system.
For example, a business registered under the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations would not automatically have full authorisation under the Financial Services and Markets Act.
The FCA has therefore advised businesses to understand exactly which parts of their operations fall under the new rules. Firms that are unsure about the permissions they need can seek independent legal advice before applying.
David Geale, the FCA’s executive director of consumers, payments and competition, said: “Getting ready for regulation starts with understanding how the regime applies to your business.” He added that the guidance gives firms the clarity they have been asking for as they prepare.
The rules may still see some updates
The guidance follows the FCA’s work to establish the new crypto asset regime. The regulator finalized its main crypto rules and guidance in June 2026 and has also been helping firms prepare through pre-application discussions and webinars.
The UK government has also made some changes to the law behind the new crypto regime. These include limited exclusions and clearer rules for some technical service providers. The FCA said most crypto firms will not be affected by these changes and can use the current guidance to prepare.
However, the FCA may update the perimeter guidance following the government’s legal changes.
The consultation is expected to look at areas such as stablecoins, firms trading with their own money, some technology providers, decentralised protocols and financial promotions.
Crypto rules come amid money laundering fight
The new crypto framework is also coming as the UK steps up its wider fight against money laundering. On Tuesday, the Home Office and HM Treasury announced a £500 million enforcement plan over three years. The plan includes 500 new officers from police forces, the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service.
The government said money laundering has grown with the rise of fintech, crypto and artificial intelligence. The National Crime Agency estimates that more than £100 billion moves through the UK or British company structures each year.
Crypto is already part of some of the UK’s financial crime investigations. The National Crime Agency’s Operation Destabilise has targeted networks accused of helping organised crime groups move cash into crypto. The government said the operation had led to 119 suspected launderers being arrested and more than £25 million in cash and crypto being seized in less than a year.
Against this backdrop, the FCA’s new guidance gives crypto firms a clearer idea of what they need to prepare for before applications open on September 30 and the full regulatory regime begins in October 2027.
Also Read: Former CFTC Chair Says SEC & CFTC Will Write Crypto Rules After CLARITY Act Fails
