Blockchain.com has received approval from UK regulators to operate as a registered crypto asset business. This registration with the Financial Conduct Authority allows the firm to conduct certain cryptocurrency activities while adhering to anti-money laundering rules. The move follows the company's earlier withdrawal of a licensing application in 2022.
Blockchain.com announced on February 10, 2026, that it has been added to the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) registry of licensed cryptocurrency companies in the United Kingdom. The firm stated in a post on social platform X: "Blockchain.com is now operating under the same rigorous standards as traditional finance and banks in the U.K." This approval enables Blockchain.com to perform specific crypto-related activities, provided it complies with money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations.
The registration represents a recommitment to security and transparency, as the company noted: "By operating as a registered crypto asset business under the FCA, we are doubling down on our commitment to security and transparency." It also strengthens the firm's UK operations ahead of upcoming financial innovations, such as offering digital asset custody.
This development comes after Blockchain.com withdrew its initial application for FCA licensing in March 2022, when it failed to secure approval before a deadline, according to CoinDesk. The current FCA system for crypto firms provides partial oversight but falls short of full financial services authorization. A more comprehensive framework is set to take effect in October 2027, expanding regulations to cover consumer protection, trust-building in the sector, operational resilience, and crime prevention—standards already applied to traditional financial entities, as reported by PYMNTS on January 9.
The UK crypto industry has welcomed related regulatory changes, including the FCA's decision last year to lift a ban on crypto exchange-traded products for retail investors. Industry members likened this to the 1986 'Big Bang' deregulations, anticipating greater acceptance of digital assets.
