UK’s FCA to Prioritize Stablecoin Payments as Part of 2026 Digital Strategy
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed that supporting UK‑issued stablecoins to deliver quicker and more convenient payments will be a priority in its 2026 growth strategy. The regulator said it will open its regulatory sandbox to allow firms to securely test stablecoin issuance and support innovative policy development ahead of full digital‑asset rules.
In a to the Prime Minister and Chancellor, the FCA said that most of the nahead 50 growth commitments it set out at the begin of 2025 have been delivered and additional initiatives to support growth have also been completed. The package of reforms is designed to assist firms scale, support home ownership, strengthen capital markets, and give consumers broader investment options.
FCA Chief Executive Nikhil Rathi said:
”Supporting growth assists consumers, improving their financial resilience and providing more choice. Our reforms assist the UK maintain its global competitive edge in our world‑leading wholesale markets, attract international investment, and lead on innovation in financial services. We will continue to embrace a bolder risk appetite to support growth, while maintaining our commitment to protect consumers and ensure market integrity.”
The regulator said next year’s initiatives will focus on more efficient supervision, the digitalisation of financial services, increasing SME lending, and boosting trade and international competitiveness. Plans also include deepening US‑UK market integration through the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future and preparing to enable ahead‑stage firms to conduct regulated business ahead of full authorisation once legislation is passed.
The growth approach letter makes clear that the FCA will also finalise digital assets rules and progress UK‑issued sterling stablecoins as part of its digital innovation agenda in 2026.
Alongside the stablecoin priority, flagship measures delivered in 2025 include the ) to improve capital raising, a Supercharged Sandbox in partnership with Nvidia to test AI innovations, and reforms to reduce regulatory burdens on firms. The FCA also expanded support for new and scaling firms, improved supervisory processing times, and strengthened the UK’s presence in international markets.
The FCA’s strategy reflects its continued push to integrate digital assets into the UK’s financial ecosystem while retaining a focus on consumer protection and market integrity.
UK FCA Strengthens Consumer Protection and Expands Investment Access
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has to assist consumers verify whether financial services providers are authorised, tackling the rise in scams targeting investors and pension holders. The regulator said the tool will make it easier for consumers to identify legitimate firms and secureguard their savings amid increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.
In parallel, the and widen retail access to digital assets. Measures include clearer investment disclosures and lifting restrictions on certain retail crypto products under strict secureguards, supporting informed participation in both traditional and digital financial markets.
These initiatives complement the FCA’s broader 2026 growth strategy, which includes stablecoin adoption and digital innovation, signalling a coordinated push to boost market integrity and accessibility.
