REGULATION | U.K Publishes Final Guidance on Regulated Crypto Activities

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published final guidance setting out which crypto-asset activities will fall under its new regulatory regime giving firms less than six months to prepare applications before transitional arrangements close.

The FCA’s Policy Statement PS26/18, published on September 16 2026, clarifies when crypto businesses will need FCA authorisation under regulations that take effect on October 25 2027.

The regime will cover activities including

• crypto-asset custody,
• operating trading platforms,
• dealing and arranging deals,
• crypto-asset staking, and
• the issuance of qualifying stablecoins.

The FCA said the guidance is aimed not only at existing crypto firms but also traditional financial institutions, payment, and electronic-money firms, overseas businesses serving UK customers and companies that may require additional permissions under the new framework.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on the Crypto Asset AML / CFT Regime in the United Kingdom

According to the FCA, the updated guidance is relevant to:

• firms carrying out, or planning to carry out, regulated cryptoasset activities in the UK, such as safeguarding cryptoassets, operating a trading platform, or arranging deals or staking
• firms already authorised that may need extra permissions
• firms registered under the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs)
• issuers of electronic money and payment service providers
• traditional finance firms exploring cryptoasset markets
• overseas firms providing cryptoasset services to UK consumers