UK Financial Conduct Authority: Launches consultation on DeFi guidelines and cryptocurrency regulatory guidelines

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched two parallel consultations aimed at seeking industry input on the applicability boundaries of DeFi and its upcoming regulatory framework for crypto assets. Both consultations will close on November 18, 2026; the FCA plans to publish final guidance in January 2027 after reviewing feedback from various parties.

The first consultation primarily targets FCA-regulated firms that use DeFi protocols or facilitate access to DeFi protocols. The guidance is not intended to introduce a new rulebook but aims to clarify how existing regulatory requirements should apply when firms provide services through highly automated, distributed ledger-based systems. The second consultation explores the scope of crypto asset regulation in the context of recent legislative changes (i.e., the "regulatory boundary").