Government sets out plan to make UK a global cryptoasset technology hub
皇冠体育app government has today announced moves that will see stablecoins recognised as a valid form of payment as part of wider plans to make Britain a global hub for cryptoasset technology and investment.

- Stablecoins to be brought within regulation paving their way for use in the UK as a recognised form of payment.
- Announcement part of a series of measures to make the UK a global hub for cryptoasset technology and investment.
- Measures include legislating for a 鈥榝inancial market infrastructure sandbox鈥� to help firms innovate, an FCA-led 鈥楥ryptoSprint鈥�, working with the Royal Mint on an NFT, and an engagement group to work more closely with industry.
This is part of a package of measures to ensure the UK financial services sector remains at the cutting edge of technology, attracting investment and jobs and widening consumer choice. It includes:
- introducing a 鈥榝inancial market infrastructure sandbox鈥� to enable firms to experiment and innovate,
- establishing a Cryptoasset Engagement Group to work more closely with the industry,
- exploring ways of enhancing the competitiveness of the UK tax system to encourage further development of the cryptoasset market,
- and working with the Royal Mint on a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) this summer as an emblem of the forward-looking approach the UK is determined to take
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said:
It鈥檚 my ambition to make the UK a global hub for cryptoasset technology, and the measures we鈥檝e outlined today will help to ensure firms can invest, innovate and scale up in this country.
We want to see the businesses of tomorrow 鈥� and the jobs they create - here in the UK, and by regulating effectively we can give them the confidence they need to think and invest long-term.
This is part of our plan to ensure the UK financial services industry is always at the forefront of technology and innovation.
Stablecoins are a form of cryptoasset that are typically pegged to a fiat currency such as the dollar and are intended to maintain a stable value. With appropriate regulation, they could provide a more efficient means of payment and widen consumer choice.
皇冠体育app government intends to legislate to bring stablecoins 鈥� where used as a means of payment 鈥� within the payments regulatory perimeter, creating conditions for stablecoins issuers and service providers to operate and invest in the UK.
By recognising the potential of this technology and regulating it now, the government can ensure financial stability and high regulatory standards so that these new technologies can ultimately be used both reliably and safely.
皇冠体育app UK鈥檚 vision for being a global hub for cryptoasset technology was set out in a speech by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen at the Innovate Finance Global Summit today.
He also announced that the UK will proactively explore the potentially transformative benefits of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in UK financial markets, which enables data to be synchronized and shared in a decentralised way to potentially achieve greater efficiency, transparency and resilience.
皇冠体育app government will legislate to establish a financial market infrastructure (FMI) 鈥橲andbox鈥� that will enable firms to experiment and innovate in providing the infrastructure services that underpin markets, in particular by enabling Distributed Ledger Technology to be tested. 皇冠体育app government further confirmed that it will initiate a research programme to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of using DLT for sovereign debt instruments.
John Glen also confirmed that the government will consult on wider regulation of the cryptoasset sector later this year.
Other measures include:
- 皇冠体育app UK government will explore ways of enhancing the competitiveness of the UK tax system to encourage further development of the cryptoasset market in the UK. It will review how DeFi loans 鈥� where holders of cryptoassets lend them out for a return 鈥� are treated for tax purposes. 皇冠体育app government will also consult on extending the scope of the Investment Manager Exemption to include cryptoassets.
- 皇冠体育app Chancellor has commissioned the Royal Mint to create a Non-Fungible Token this summer.
- 皇冠体育app Financial Conduct Authority will hold a two day 鈥楥ryptoSprint鈥� in May with industry participants, seeking views directly from industry on key issues relating to the development of a future cryptoasset regime.
- 皇冠体育app Economic Secretary will establish and chair a Cryptoasset Engagement Group, convening key figures from the regulatory authorities and industry to advise the government on issues facing the cryptoasset sector.
In his Mansion House speech in July 2021, the Chancellor set out his vision for the future of the financial services sector, which included a plan to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of technology and innovation. This was one of four key components of that vision, with the ultimate aim of building a financial services sector that continues to be one the rest of the world looks towards.
皇冠体育app government launched a consultation on cryptoassets and stablecoins last year and has today published its response setting out the next steps.