UK's FCA Pilots Crypto Disclosure Templates to Establish International Standards for Transparency

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom has made notable progress in developing its forthcoming cryptocurrency regulations by granting Eunice, a RegTech company, permission to trial standardized crypto disclosure templates within its regulatory sandbox. Announced on Wednesday, this project includes participation from leading exchanges such as

, Crypto.com, and Kraken, and is designed to assess whether these templates can improve transparency in practical scenarios. By taking this step, the FCA to a hands-on, industry-driven regulatory process, favoring real-world experimentation over purely theoretical policy creation.

Colin Payne, who leads innovation at the FCA, highlighted that the sandbox remains open to additional participants, encouraging companies to test solutions that could help shape future crypto regulations. This approach fits within the FCA’s broader goal of developing regulatory frameworks in partnership with industry stakeholders, moving away from conventional top-down methods. Yi Luo, Eunice’s co-founder and CEO, pointed out that the initiative supports market integrity as institutional involvement in crypto increases, emphasizing that the sandbox

between regulators and industry to reinforce the market’s foundation.

The templates for disclosure were created in response to the FCA’s 2023 Admissions and Disclosures Discussion Paper, which invited industry feedback on technical standards for crypto oversight. This ongoing process is part of the FCA’s Crypto Roadmap, a multi-year strategy set to conclude with the release of finalized crypto regulations by 2026. In the past year, the UK has introduced several regulatory initiatives, such as stricter rules on crypto advertising, alerts about unauthorized exchanges, and a thorough review of market-abuse risks. More recently, the FCA

on crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs) for retail investors and began consulting on extending its Consumer Duty framework—a rule from traditional finance that requires firms to prioritize consumer interests—to the crypto industry.

The Eunice pilot also underscores the UK’s pivotal role in the international crypto arena. By emphasizing transparency and encouraging institutional participation, the FCA seeks to attract investment while managing the risks linked to market fluctuations. Experts suggest that if these templates prove effective, they could influence regulatory practices in other regions, especially as the EU and U.S. work through their own crypto policy challenges. Nonetheless, obstacles persist, such as ensuring that standardized disclosures keep pace with the fast-changing crypto environment and finding the right balance between fostering innovation and protecting investors.

As the FCA advances its regulatory roadmap, industry observers will monitor how insights from the Eunice trial shape the final rules, which may impact the UK’s standing in the global crypto sector. With more institutions entering the space, the FCA’s ability to maintain both innovation and transparency will be essential for the industry’s future stability and expansion.