Podcast Plus: Crypto under the FCA – Special edition - Authorisation - Global Regulation Tomorrow

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been steadily expanding its oversight of cryptoasset firms, and this special edition of the Global Regulation Tomorrow podcast focuses on the authorisation process that sits at the centre of that regime. Under the UK's money laundering regulations, crypto businesses operating in the country must register with the FCA and demonstrate they meet standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls before they can serve customers legally.

For markets, the practical significance lies in market structure rather than price. Authorisation requirements shape which firms can operate, how quickly they can launch products, and how easily they can partner with banks and payment providers. A rigorous process can raise compliance costs and slow entry, but it can also improve standards and give institutional participants greater confidence in counterparties.

What to watch: how the FCA applies its registration criteria in practice, how long approvals take, and whether the UK's approach converges with regimes elsewhere, such as the EU's MiCA framework. For now, authorisation remains the gateway through which UK crypto activity must pass.