FCA Crypto Authorisation Gateway Opens September 30
The UK’s new cryptoasset regime has a clear timeline: the FCA application gateway opens on September 30, 2026, the main application window runs until February 28, 2027, and the regime takes effect on October 25, 2027. Until then, existing rules remain in force, but firms should use the window to prepare for authorization. The shift is substantial: many crypto businesses that currently operate under the FCA’s AML registration framework will move into the standard Financial Services and Markets Act authorization regime. Firms will be judged like other regulated financial businesses, with scrutiny over governance, capital, operational resilience, controls, and senior management responsibilities. Large exchanges and custodians are likely to need significant compliance upgrades. Smaller firms may need to raise their compliance standards, narrow their services, or exit the UK market. The gateway opening marks the start of the practical transition, even though the new regime is not yet live.
