UK financial institutions: Stablecoin regulatory positioning and payment integration will be a core issue in UK crypto regulation in 2026.

 UK financial institutions have recently reviewed the progress of UK crypto regulations in 2025 and looked ahead to key policy directions in 2026. UK Finance pointed out that over the past year, the UK has conducted intensive discussions around stablecoins, crypto asset trading platforms (CATPs), and market manipulation prevention, with regulatory focus gradually extending from "unbacked crypto assets" to stablecoins supported by real-world assets.

UK Finance stated that regulators are increasingly viewing stablecoins as tools with payment and monetary attributes rather than purely investment-type crypto assets. This classification will directly affect redemption timeliness, KYC requirements, and issuer compliance costs. They also warned that if the regulatory burden on GBP stablecoins is higher than that on non-GBP stablecoins issued overseas, it may trigger issuers to relocate, weakening the UK's control over stablecoins and monetary policy.

Furthermore, UK Finance pointed out that the core challenge in 2026 lies in balancing encouraging innovation, protecting consumers, and maintaining the resilience of the financial system, including systemic stablecoin redemption rules, multi-currency and multi-issuer structure designs, and the integration of stablecoins with traditional payment rails in payment scenarios. As the UK Financial Conduct Authority launches a regulatory sandbox for non-systemic stablecoins, the UK is entering the policy implementation phase. Whether the final regulatory framework can balance innovation and competitiveness will determine if London can continue to maintain its status as an international financial center.