FCA and partners continues crackdown on illegal crypto trading

The FCA and partners have taken further action against illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading in London.

The FCA has carried out further operations with partners to disrupt illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading across multiple London locations.

Working with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the Metropolitan Police Service, the FCA targeted 3 premises suspected of illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading.

Cease and desist letters were issued at all 3 premises, requiring traders to stop any suspected illegal crypto businesses.

Peer-to-peer trading is when individuals buy and sell crypto directly with each other. Anyone doing this by way of business in the UK requires appropriate registration. There are currently no FCA registered peer-to-peer crypto businesses operating in the UK.

Unregistered peer-to-peer crypto traders operating by way of business in the UK can provide a route for criminals to move and launder illicit funds. By operating outside the FCA’s registration regime, they avoid controls designed to detect and prevent money laundering. 

Steve Smart, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA said: 

“Working with partners, we continue to track and disrupt illegal crypto activity. Anyone running an unregistered peer-to-peer crypto business should assume we are looking at them.”