The five-month application period comes before the introduction of a new regulatory framework set for October 2027, following extensive legislative efforts.
By Jamie Crawley|Edited by Stephen AlpherSep 30, 2026, 10:04 a.m. EDT2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on (Butti_s/Pixabay)SummaryShow- The Financial Conduct Authority has initiated its authorization process for cryptocurrency businesses looking to operate in the UK, with applications due by the end of February 2027.
- This five-month application period is set before the anticipated rollout of a new regulatory framework in October 2027, after years of legislative groundwork.
- Over 60 companies already registered with the FCA’s anti-money-laundering framework may have an advantage in fulfilling the new licensing criteria.
Cryptocurrency firms aiming to establish operations in the UK have a five-month window to submit their applications to the financial regulator.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) opened its “authorization gateway” on Wednesday, allowing firms until the end of February 2027 to register.
The UK has been working on a regulatory framework for digital asset firms since as early as 2022, which has seen slower progress compared to other entities like the European Union.
The EU’s Markets in Crypto Asset (MiCA) Regulation took effect in June 2023, while the UK’s relevant legislation was just being enacted around the same time.
However, developments accelerated late last year, with the FCA announcing that its framework would be operational in October 2027, preceded by this application window for companies seeking licensing.
The February 2027 deadline marks a tight five-month timeframe for firms to apply. Companies that have already registered under the FCA’s previous regime, primarily focused on anti-money laundering, might find they have already completed significant preparatory work.
Among these companies is Zumo, a crypto infrastructure platform that achieved registration in 2021. Based in Edinburgh, Zumo has created a “UK Cryptoasset Regulation Tracker” to assist firms in understanding the upcoming regulatory requirements and timelines.
“All other trackers are developed by law firms or consultancies. We are creating ours as industry practitioners,” stated Nick Jones, founder and CEO of Zumo, in an email announcement on Wednesday.
“This project has involved a thorough examination of the regime rules down to each specific obligation, mapping them to the related regulated activities, and ensuring this mapping stays current as new documents are released.”
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Beyond the Risk-Free Rate: Diversified Real World Yield in Productive Stablecoins
Beyond the Risk-Free Rate: Diversified Real World Yield in Productive Stablecoins
Diversified RWA stablecoins sustain 5-7% yield from real credit as crypto funding compresses to ~4%. GENIUS pushes yield off-chain; TAM grows to $4B in 3 years.
By CoinDesk ResearchSep 24, 2026Commissioned byRealFiDiversified RWA stablecoins sustain 5-7% yield from real credit as crypto funding compresses to ~4%. GENIUS pushes yield off-chain; TAM grows to $4B in 3 years.
Why it matters:
Diversified RWA stablecoins sustain 5-7% yield from real credit as crypto funding compresses to ~4%. GENIUS pushes yield off-chain; TAM grows to $4B in 3 years.
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