Briefing
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has initiated a consultation to establish minimum prudential and operational standards for Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) while simultaneously proposing a regulatory path for fund tokenization. This dual-track action mandates that crypto firms align their systems and controls with those of traditional finance, specifically addressing financial crime and resilience, and strategically integrates Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) into the UK’s fund infrastructure via the UK Blueprint model. The final regulatory requirements are expected to be published in a Policy Statement in the first half of 2026.
Context
Prior to this action, the UK’s regulatory framework for cryptoassets was fragmented, primarily focusing on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and financial promotions, leaving a significant gap in prudential and operational resilience requirements for CASPs. This ambiguity created systemic risk, as firms were not required to demonstrate the capacity to withstand financial shocks or meet robust cyber risk standards, which hindered institutional adoption of DLT-based financial products.
Analysis
This consultation fundamentally alters the operational architecture for CASPs by extending traditional finance requirements → such as those for systems and controls and operational resilience → directly to the digital asset sector. Regulated entities must now undertake a comprehensive gap analysis to integrate robust cyber risk management and financial crime controls into their core technology stacks. The tokenization proposals create a new product structuring opportunity, offering a regulatory-compliant pathway for fund managers to leverage DLT for asset management, thereby setting a precedent for the formal convergence of decentralized technology and conventional capital markets. This strategic integration is crucial for firms seeking to utilize DLT while maintaining regulatory legitimacy.
Parameters
- Consultation Paper Name → CP25/28 → Progressing Fund Tokenisation.
- Target Publication Date → First half of 2026 for the final Policy Statement.
- Key Compliance Focus → Operational Resilience and Financial Crime Controls.
- Adoption Metric → 12% of UK adults own crypto, up from 10% in previous findings.
Outlook
The next phase involves the industry’s response to the consultation, which will directly shape the final rules expected in 2026. This move positions the UK to potentially lead in tokenized finance by providing a clear legal basis for DLT adoption in authorized funds. The precedent set by applying traditional prudential standards to CASPs is likely to influence other jurisdictions, accelerating the global trend toward regulatory harmonization and the removal of firms that cannot meet the elevated compliance threshold.
Verdict
The FCA’s strategic dual-consultation decisively signals the UK’s intent to integrate digital assets into its core financial system by mandating institutional-grade operational and prudential standards.
