UK Regulator: 87% of Crypto Firms Fail to Meet Registration Requirements

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed that over 87% of crypto registrations were either rejected, withdrawn, or refused as part of its ongoing efforts to combat fraud and enhance consumer protection. In its annual report, the FCA outlined new marketing rules for crypto assets. The regulator issued 450 consumer alerts against illegal crypto promotions in early 2024 and reinforced its commitment to global collaboration and oversight improvements.

FCA Highlights New Crypto Regulations to Combat Fraud

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s top financial regulator, published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2023-24 last week, highlighting significant progress in its regulatory oversight of the crypto sector. The report emphasized new rules introduced to enhance consumer protections and combat financial crimes related to cryptoassets.

In the report, the FCA revealed:

Over 87% of crypto registrations were rejected, withdrawn or refused.

“We help firms applying for authorisation by communicating our expectations and issuing guidance on good and poor practice. This is helping firms understand what is required – 44 crypto firms now have money laundering registration,” the regulator explained.

The FCA noted the implementation of stricter marketing rules for cryptoasset promotions, which came into force earlier in 2024. These rules include a 24-hour cooling-off period for investors and categorize cryptoassets as “Restricted Mass Market Investments.” The FCA stated this measure aims to ensure that crypto promotions are clear, fair, and not misleading, as firms must adhere to standards that protect consumers from potentially high-risk investments. The regulator highlighted:

We issued 450 consumer alerts against firms illegally promoting cryptoassets in the first 3 months of the rules going live.

The report also detailed the FCA’s wider anti-financial crime initiatives, including significant oversight improvements in the sector. The FCA highlighted that since April 2023, it had conducted multiple supervisory visits and enforced new controls targeting high-risk firms. These measures align with the FCA’s commitment to reducing money laundering and improving fraud detection across financial sectors, including cryptoassets. The agency confirmed that it continues to collaborate with international bodies to set global standards on crypto regulation. The FCA wrote:

We continue to play a leading role internationally – shaping the global standards on crypto,
sustainability, and non-bank finance to name but a few.