The UK is preparing to set clearer rules for stablecoins in an effort to stay aligned with global regulatory developments.
Summary
- Bank of England will release a detailed UK stablecoin regulation consultation on Nov. 10.
- Initial rules focus on stablecoins used for payments, with temporary holding caps.
- The UK aims to match the pace of U.S. regulatory rollout while managing financial stability risks.
The consultation marks a major step in the UK’s plan to shape a stablecoin framework that mirrors the pace of developments in other parts of the world.
According to a Nov. 5 report by Bloomberg, the Bank of England will publish a consultation on stablecoin regulation on Nov. 10.
UK moves toward a clear stablecoin framework
The goal is to ensure that the UK is not trailing behind the U.S. in setting standards for digital money. Bank of England Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden said the new rules will arrive “just as quickly” as those in the U.S., and that the framework will focus first on stablecoins that are expected to be used widely for payments.
Under the proposal, there will be temporary limits on how much stablecoin individuals and businesses can hold. Bloomberg reported that these caps may be around £20,000 for individuals and £10 million for companies.
Officials say the limits are meant to prevent sudden movements of deposits out of banks and into stablecoins, a risk that matters more in the UK because of how mortgages are funded through bank balance sheets.
Keeping pace with global regulation
This comes as the UK pushes to stay competitive in financial innovation. The Financial Conduct Authority recently allowed crypto exchange trade notes to return for retail investors, and the government has stated that tokenized finance will play a role in the future of London’s markets.
At the same time, lawmakers are working on a broader crypto rulebook that will cover exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and staking services by 2026.
The U.K. is effectively trying to keep pace with the U.S., Europe under Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, and Hong Kong’s licensing approach. The decisions made in this consultation period could influence where firms choose to launch payment products and tokenized asset platforms over the next few years.
