Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority has launched a consultation on proposed rules for the crypto industry, a day after the government said the sector would be brought into the regulatory perimeter from October 2027.

The FCA outlined plans covering admissions and disclosures for cryptoasset listings, market abuse controls, standards for trading platforms, requirements for intermediaries, clearer risk communication on staking, protections for lending and borrowing, prudential safeguards for firms, and questions on how decentralised finance should be treated. Consultation responses are open until 12 February 2026, with the regulator aiming to finalise the regime by the end of next year.

David Geale, executive director for payments and digital finance at the FCA, said: “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.

“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 published new research alongside the proposals indicating that crypto ownership among UK adults has fallen by a third in the past year, from 12 per cent to 8 per cent.

Ministers said the legislation will bring crypto services under FCA oversight in a way that mirrors traditional finance, with transparency standards and consumer protections designed to increase confidence and help detect and sanction suspicious activity. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said: “Bringing crypto into the regulatory perimeter is a crucial step in securing the UK’s position as a world‑leading financial centre in the digital age.

“By giving firms clear rules of the road, we are providing the certainty they need to invest, innovate and create high‑skilled jobs here in the UK, while giving millions strong consumer protections, and locking dodgy actors out of the UK market.”

The Guardian reported that crypto exchanges and digital wallets already need FCA registration for money‑laundering supervision, with the forthcoming framework expanding the regulator’s remit to the services themselves. Britain is seeking to align its approach more closely with the United States than the European Union, according to Reuters.

The FCA stressed that crypto remains largely unregulated for now, apart from financial promotions and financial crime rules, and urged consumers to approach investing with full awareness of the risks.

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