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

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a special edition of its "Podcast Plus" series focused on cryptoasset authorisation. The episode examines the regulatory gateway that firms must pass through to operate legally in the UK, offering listeners a closer look at how the authorisation process works in practice.

For market participants, the development is a reminder that the UK has chosen a registration-and-authorisation model rather than a bespoke licensing regime for crypto firms. That distinction matters: firms seeking to provide certain crypto services in the UK must meet the FCA's standards on governance, financial crime controls and consumer protection before they can trade.

What to watch: how the FCA applies these standards as more firms apply, and whether the authorisation pipeline speeds up or slows down. The tone of the regulator's public communications can also signal its appetite for enforcement versus guidance. For now, the podcast serves as an educational resource rather than a policy change, but it reflects the FCA's continued emphasis on supervision over the crypto sector.