Blockchain.com Clears UK Regulatory Hurdle After Four-Year FCA Journey

Blockchain.com has officially secured registration with the Financial Conduct Authority, allowing the firm to operate as a regulated crypto-asset business in the United Kingdom.

The approval enables the London-headquartered company to legally provide crypto services to both retail and institutional clients in its home market, marking a major regulatory milestone after several years of regulatory restructuring.

FCA Registration Details

According to the updated FCA registry, Blockchain.com has been approved under its operational trading name “BC Operations.” The registration authorizes the firm to offer a range of regulated services within the UK, including:

• Crypto brokerage services
• Digital asset custody
• Hosted and non-custodial wallet products

The approval is issued under the UK’s existing anti-money laundering (AML) framework, which governs crypto firms while the country finalizes its permanent digital asset regulatory regime.

A Return After a 2022 Withdrawal

The registration comes nearly four years after Blockchain.com withdrew its original UK application in March 2022, when it had attempted to enter the market via a Lithuanian subsidiary. That withdrawal was part of a broader industry reset, as UK regulators tightened oversight and raised compliance standards for crypto businesses operating domestically.

By securing FCA registration directly in 2026, Blockchain.com has effectively reset its UK strategy and re-established itself as a compliant, domestically regulated operator.

What Changes for UK Users and Institutions

With FCA registration in place, Blockchain.com is expected to significantly expand its UK offering.

For institutional clients, the company plans to roll out enterprise-grade compliance, treasury, and risk-management tools, targeting professional investors and corporate users that require regulated counterparties.

The approval also improves Blockchain.com’s ability to form partnerships with traditional UK banks and regulated financial institutions, many of which are restricted from working with crypto firms lacking clear FCA status.

Looking Ahead: Full UK Authorization Targeted

While the current registration covers AML compliance, Blockchain.com has confirmed plans to seek full authorization under the UK’s upcoming permanent crypto regulatory framework, once the formal regulatory gateway opens later in 2026. The company is targeting completion of that process by 2027, which would place it among the first fully authorized crypto platforms in the UK.

Part of a Broader European Strategy

The UK approval builds on Blockchain.com’s broader European regulatory progress. In 2025, the firm secured a license under Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), enabling it to passport services across all 30 countries in the European Economic Area.

Together, the FCA registration and MiCA authorization position Blockchain.com as one of the more comprehensively regulated crypto platforms operating across both the UK and EU markets.

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