Summary
- UK financial regulator introduced sweeping new laws and announced strict enforcement.
- The regulations require companies advertising crypto assets to be FCA authorised or have their promotions approved.
- Many in the industry have stated the notice period was too short, some have left the UK.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the United Kingdom’s financial market regulator, has recently launched a crypto warning list. Under the new regime introduced on October 8, all crypto firms must now display clear risk labels and implement mandated system changes, resulting in some crypto firms leaving the UK.
146 Alerts in First 24 Hours
After the initial rollout, the list went live on the FCA website, containing 143 entries. Among the listed entities are well-known names like Huobi-owned HTX and KuCoin. The list does not provide much information, apart from a generic, “You should avoid dealing with this firm.”
The FCA stated, “We expect businesses including social media platforms, app stores, search engines, domain name registrars and payments firms to consider the alerts we have issued and play their part in protecting UK consumers from illegal promotions.”
New Rules for Crypto
Starting from October 8, 2023, companies interested in advertising crypto-related assets within the UK are legally required to obtain authorization or registration from the FCA. Alternatively, they can have their promotional materials approved by a firm that holds FCA authorisation.
In compliance with FCA regulations, these promotions must adhere to specific standards, including clarity, fairness, and truthfulness. They should prominently display risk warnings and avoid any tactics that might inappropriately encourage individuals to invest.
According to the regulator, these changes are designed to align the marketing of cryptocurrency assets with the standards applied to other high-risk investments.
The FCA statement reads, “The financial promotion regime applies to all firms marketing cryptoassets to UK consumers, regardless of whether the firm is based overseas or what technology is used to make the promotion. The FCA’s rules are designed to help people understand what they are purchasing, and the risks involved.”
Industry Reacted Prior to Implementation
While the FCA has been urging firms to prepare for these changes since February 2023, many firms felt unprepared.
Su Carpenter, director at CryptoUK said,
many firms feel that there was too short a time period between guidance being issued and the implementation date.
Su CarpenterAs a consequence, ByBit, an unregistered firm, said it will cease its services to U.K. clients in advance of the October 8 regulatory changes. Luno, also not registered with the FCA, is restricting certain U.K. clients from crypto investments.
More Crypto Firms Caught in FCA Crosshairs
According to a Binance blog, the company responded to the updated Financial Promotions Regime by creating a new domain for UK users and forming a partnership with Rebuildingsociety.com Limited, an FCA-regulated firm authorised to approve crypto marketing materials as an ‘S21 approver.’
However, Reuters reported that the FCA stopped the peer-to-peer platform rebuildingsociety.com from approving Binance and other crypto firms, despite the FCA’s statement that, “firms wishing to promote cryptoassets in the UK must, by law, be authorised or registered by the FCA, or have their marketing approved by an authorised firm.”
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