UK sets 2027 deadline for sweeping crypto law

The UK plans to bring a comprehensive crypto regulatory regime into force by October 25, 2027, as the government faces mounting pressure to give the digital asset industry legal certainty.

City Minister and Economic Secretary Lucy Rigby said the timeline depends on parliamentary approval, telling a London conference that the Financial Services and Markets Act is progressing through Whitehall.

“This is a major milestone for the UK, and it’s giving companies the certainty that they need to grow and to invest here,”

Rigby said at the TOK26 London Tokenisation Summit.

Under the new framework, crypto-asset firms would be required to register with and be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, aligning them more closely with traditional financial institutions.

The announcement comes as industry figures warn Britain risks falling behind the United States and European Union, both of which have already advanced comprehensive crypto legislation.

“If we want the UK to be a leader, we can’t just push this innovation into small sandboxes,”

Said Tom Duff Gordon, vice president of international policy at Coinbase, pointing to faster regulatory progress abroad.