FCA & regulation

How the Financial Conduct Authority regulates crypto firms, promotions and consumer protection in the UK.

• FCA crypto rules

  Who regulates crypto in the UK, how to check a firm is legitimate, and why your crypto is not protected like bank savings.

• Financial promotions

  Who can promote crypto to UK consumers, required risk warnings, and what the FCA financial promotions regime means for social media and influencers.

• 2026–2027 timeline

  When full FCA crypto regulation begins, authorisation applications open, and what changes for UK consumers.

• Check FCA register

  Verify a UK crypto firm is on the FCA register before you send money. Plain-English walkthrough with what MLR registration means and what it does not.

• No FSCS protection

  Why UK bank deposit protection does not cover crypto on exchanges — Celsius-style failures, scams and what you can do.

• FCA 2027 for consumers

  The new UK crypto authorisation regime — Consumer Duty, staking, custody and what to expect as a buyer.

• ATMs & promotions

  Why unregistered crypto ATMs are illegal, how to spot unlawful financial promotions, and FCA warning signs.

• Security tokens

  How FCA-regulated security tokens differ from bitcoin-style exchange tokens.

• Proof of reserves

  Why 'proof of reserves' is not deposit insurance and what it does not guarantee.

• Gambling tokens

  Where crypto gambling and prediction markets sit under UK law — and why they differ from investing.