• The United Kingdom has released new plans to regulate the cryptocurrency industry within its borders.
• The proposals focus on trading, lending and the safety of customer funds, with exchanges and firms required to ensure “fair” standards in disclosure documents.
• The consultation will conclude on April 30th, 2023, after which the government will consider feedback and create a response.
UK Releases Crypto Regulation Proposals
The United Kingdom has released its plans to regulate the cryptocurrency industry within the country. The announcement highlights that “high levels of volatility and a number of recent failures have exposed the structural vulnerability of some business models in the sector,” amongst other reasons, have led to these new set of regulatory guidelines.
Focus On Trading & Lending
Specifically focusing on trading and lending, the report describes how the United Kingdom’s government “will seek to regulate a broad suite of cryptoasset activities, consistent with its approach to traditional finance.” It details how proposals will place responsibility on the cryptocurrency exchanges and firms to define detailed content requirements for disclosure documents, ensuring “fair” standards.
Safety Of Customer Funds
In order to ensure the safety of customer funds, the consultation will seek to create a framework with clear guidelines for responsible practices.”We remain steadfast in our commitment to grow the economy and enable technological change and innovation – and this includes cryptoasset technology,” Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Griffith remarked.
Custodial Actors & Intermediaries
The consultation also highlighted the necessity for cryptocurrency custodial actors and intermediaries to responsibly facilitate transactions and safely store customer assets. This is especially important in light of recent events throughout the cryptocurrency space that have left millions of customers without access to their funds.
Conclusion
Today’s consultation will conclude on April 30th, 2023, after which the government will consider feedback and create a response. “Once legislation is laid, the Financial Conduct Authority will consult on its detailed rules for