FCA Crypto Authorisation: What UK Firms Must Do Before the 2027 Regime
The UK’s crypto rules are finally landing in full. If you run a crypto business with any UK reach, the clock’s already ticking toward a hard 2027 cutover. This guide gets straight to what to file, when to file it, and the gotchas that trip teams up.
We’ll walk through the FCA’s dates, the expectation to use a UK entity, how MLR registration fits, what your application needs to prove, and what boards should greenlight now. No fluff. Just the steps and the risks.
By 25 October 2027, you can’t carry on in-scope cryptoasset activities in or to the UK without the right FCA permissions under FSMA. The FCA opened a fixed application gateway from 30 September 2026 to 28 February 2027, and filings in that window may benefit from transitional or savings provisions while decisions are made. The FCA’s guidance expects most firms to operate through a UK legal entity, and you should sort MLR registration ahead of any FSMA application. Start building your pack now and assume real lead times.
- Key dates: policy package landed 30 June 2026; gateway runs 30 Sep 2026–28 Feb 2027; regime starts 25 Oct 2027 (FCA, FCA — press, FCA).
- Use a UK legal entity unless you fall into narrow overseas platform exceptions (FCA FG26/7).
- Get MLR registration in hand early; the FCA signposts practical cut-offs ahead of FSMA filings (FCA).
- Expect deep checks on governance, financial crime, custody, outsourcing, resilience, and wind-down.
What exactly changes under the FCA’s 2027 crypto regime?
On 30 June 2026 the FCA published its final package of policy statements (PS26/9–PS26/13), which completes the roadmap and sets the core rules and guidance for cryptoauthorisation in the UK. That’s the framework you’ll be judged against going forward (Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)).
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