UK Treasury Finalizes Cryptoasset Rules, Setting 2027 Start Date for Full Oversight

Quick Breakdown 

• UK Treasury has finalised the Cryptoassets Regulations 2025, setting out authorization, disclosure, and market abuse rules ahead of a 2027 rollout.
• Hannah Meakin of Norton Rose Fulbright said the framework closely mirrors traditional financial markets, in comments shared with DeFi Planet.
• The regime aligns with the FCA’s broader push to expand retail investment access and address low UK participation rates.

A senior legal expert has welcomed the UK’s newly published cryptoasset legislation, highlighting its close alignment with existing financial market rules while signalling more tailored oversight ahead. Hannah Meakin, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, shared the assessment with DeFi Planet following the government’s formal release of the long-anticipated regulatory package.

Meakin said the framework shows “clear parallels” with the offering, admission, and market abuse regimes that already apply to traditional investments, noting that further customization for cryptoassets is likely once the regulator develops detailed rules. She pointed in particular to provisions enabling authorised firms to share information to combat market abuse, as well as the possibility of recognizing legitimate market practices as carve-outs from offences.

1️⃣ The UK Treasury has announced plans to extend existing financial laws to cover crypto assets, with the full regime expected to take effect in October 2027.

This means crypto firms will soon be regulated by the FCA in the same way as banks and brokers. 🧵👇#UKRegulation… pic.twitter.com/dweAR41NMO

— Conor Kenny (@conorfkenny) December 15, 2025

Treasury finalises cryptoasset regulatory framework

On December 15, HM Treasury confirmed it had laid the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025 before Parliament. The legislation establishes new regulated activities across the crypto sector, including operating trading platforms, issuing qualifying stablecoins, safeguarding cryptoassets, dealing and arranging transactions, and offering staking services.

The rules also introduce dedicated regimes for admissions and disclosures, alongside a market abuse framework covering insider dealing, unlawful disclosure of inside information and market manipulation. Most provisions are scheduled to take effect on October 25, 2027, with early commencement clauses allowing the Financial Conduct Authority to begin preparatory work, consultations and rulemaking.

Broader push to expand retail participation

Officials see more precise crypto regulation as part of this broader effort, providing legal certainty for firms while strengthening consumer protection. With scope, timelines and authorisation requirements now defined, industry participants are expected to begin consolidating compliance plans as the UK moves toward a fully regulated crypto market.

The crypto regime lands amid broader reforms aimed at expanding retail investment participation. On December 8, 2025, the FCA unveiled a comprehensive package to remove barriers that have left participation at around 25% among UK adults.