UK opens crypto application window ahead of planned 2027 regime
Firms have a five-month window to apply under the UK's incoming crypto framework, which is slated to take effect in October 2027.
The UK has opened the application window for crypto firms seeking to operate under its forthcoming regulatory framework, with a February deadline for submissions.
The window runs for five months. The new regime is planned to take effect in October 2027, following several years of legislative development.
A staged transition
The application period gives companies time to prepare for the transition from the current patchwork of registrations and guidance to a formal authorisation process. Firms that intend to keep serving UK customers will need to assess whether their activities fall within scope before the deadline.
The UK has spent years consulting on how to treat crypto assets, balancing consumer protection against the goal of keeping the sector in the country. The application window is one of the first concrete operational steps toward the framework's planned 2027 start date, though timelines for such regimes have shifted before.