The United Kingdom and United States are preparing to announce a landmark cooperation agreement on digital assets, with stablecoins taking center stage in the bilateral partnership. The breakthrough follows a high-level meeting on September 16, 2025, between UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in London.
The meeting brought together major cryptocurrency firms including Coinbase, Circle, and Ripple alongside traditional financial giants Citigroup, Bank of America, and Barclays. Sources familiar with the discussions revealed the agreement was organized at short notice, prompted by letters from crypto industry groups urging the UK government to prioritize digital assets ahead of President Donald Trump's state visit this week.
British officials believe that aligning regulatory approaches with the U.S. could give UK companies greater access to the world's deepest financial markets while drawing more American investment into the country. Much of the conversation centered on regulatory alignment for digital assets, with participants agreeing there was "a huge opportunity for the UK in digital assets" if cooperation moves forward.
The partnership comes at a politically sensitive moment for Britain amid concerns about London-listed companies moving to New York for higher valuations. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has taken an openly supportive stance toward digital assets, contrasting with the more cautious approach of British regulators. Former Chancellor George Osborne has warned that Britain risks being left behind unless it matches international momentum, pointing to the U.S., EU, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi as regions moving faster to set clear rules.
Officials confirmed that work is underway on a joint UK-U.S. digital securities sandbox that will allow companies to test blockchain applications in financial services. The collaborative efforts on capital market alignment are expected to feature prominently in discussions between Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday.