On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced that crypto firms can now formally apply for authorization, opening the door to a new regulatory regime that will bring the sector under full oversight for the first time.
Companies that plan to keep operating in the UK are expected to submit applications by February 28, 2027. The regime itself takes effect on October 25, 2027.
Under the framework, crypto businesses will be held to standards covering consumer protection, the safeguarding of customer assets, market integrity and financial resilience. The regulator said the rules are intended to give investors protections they have not previously had.
Approval will not be automatic. The FCA said firms must show they meet its requirements, and those that fall short will not be authorised or allowed to continue offering regulated cryptoasset services in the UK.
The authority said it aims to decide on all applications received during the application window before the new rules take effect. Firms that apply within that period but are still waiting for a decision when the regime begins may keep providing cryptoasset services, including taking on new customers, while their cases are assessed.
Dominic Cashman, the FCA’s director of authorization, said the new regime would give consumers stronger protections and provide firms with a clear framework in which to operate. He said companies could now apply and begin preparing for regulation.
The FCA published its final crypto rules and guidance in June 2026. To help businesses prepare, the regulator is offering pre-application support meetings, which firms can request before submitting an application. It has also hosted webinars explaining the rules and the authorisation process, and these are available on demand.
The regulator framed the move as a step toward establishing the UK as a leading location for building and investing in cryptoasset businesses, saying the government and the FCA want the sector to be defined by integrity and trust alongside growth and innovation.
Source: UK Financial Conduct Authority
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