The UK is moving into a defining phase for cryptoasset regulation as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) prepares to open its authorisation gateway for crypto firms on 30 September 2026, with the full regime coming into force on 25 October 2027.
To help firms prepare, industry body CryptoUK has announced a strategic partnership between ZumoPay and Zeyro to provide a plug-and-play compliance solution for cryptocurrency firms seeking to enter or remain in the UK market. Nick Jones, CEO of Zumo, said building compliance infrastructure from scratch is a daunting task requiring significant investment, and the partnership is designed to reduce administrative burdens for exchanges and other crypto firms.
The FCA’s guidance covers issuing qualifying stablecoins, operating cryptoasset trading platforms, dealing and arranging deals, safeguarding cryptoassets, and arranging cryptoasset staking. David Geale, the FCA’s executive director of consumers, payments and competition, said: “We are building a crypto regime that firms, consumers and international partners can trust. Getting ready for regulation starts with understanding how the regime applies to your business. This guidance gives firms the clarity they’ve asked for so they can prepare with confidence.”
The guidance follows the FCA finalising its rules in June 2026 and is accompanied by pre-application discussions and webinars. The UK government has also made legal changes including targeted exclusions and clarifications for certain technical services providers. The FCA will consult in October on updates related to UK qualifying stablecoins, proprietary trading, market making, decentralised protocols, safeguarding arrangements and financial promotions.
