Summary: The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has opened consultations setting out proposed rules for a future UK cryptoasset regime, with responses due by 12 February 2026.
What the FCA is consulting on
In its consultation package, the FCA outlined proposals covering:
- Admissions and disclosures for listing cryptoassets
- A market abuse regime to address insider trading and manipulation
- Standards for cryptoasset trading platforms
- Requirements for intermediaries such as brokers
- Disclosures and risk clarity for staking services
- Potential rules for crypto lending and borrowing
- Questions on how regulation should apply to decentralised finance (DeFi)
- Prudential requirements and financial safeguards for firms
Timeline and context
The FCA said the consultation responses are open until 12 February 2026. The consultation package includes CP25/40, CP25/41 and CP25/42, and follows earlier FCA work on stablecoins, custody and conduct standards.
Why it matters
This is one of the more detailed, rule-focused steps toward a comprehensive UK crypto framework. For exchanges, brokers and product providers, the proposals indicate how existing financial-market concepts (disclosures, market abuse controls, prudential safeguards) could be applied to crypto activities.
Sources
- FCA press release: FCA seeks feedback on proposals for UK crypto rules
- Consultation papers: CP25/40, CP25/41, CP25/42
- Reuters (Dec. 16, 2025): British regulator kicks off consultation on new crypto rules
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