The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced a new timeline for cryptocurrency asset regulation. Starting from September 2026, institutions can begin submitting applications for crypto licenses. This window provides the industry with over a year to prepare.

The key deadline is October 2027—by then, the new regulatory framework will officially come into effect, and all relevant institutions must be authorized under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA). An important reminder: existing anti-money laundering registrations or payment licenses will not automatically upgrade or transfer; you must actively apply for new authorization or make license changes.

For institutions that miss the deadline, the situation will be much stricter after the transition period—only existing operations can continue, and new services will be restricted. In other words, this is a real "deadline," not a suggestion.