Master FCA crypto regulations, streamline your registration process, and build an airtight compliance framework to future-proof your digital asset business.
The UK's cryptoasset regulatory framework is entering a new phase, with the introduction of a comprehensive authorisation regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act. Firms operating crypto exchanges, custody services, stablecoin arrangements, staking products, tokenisation platforms, and other digital asset businesses must now navigate a significantly expanded regulatory perimeter, alongside new prudential, governance, financial crime, and operational resilience requirements. As the framework develops, understanding how the rules apply in practice will be critical to launching, scaling, and operating cryptoasset businesses in the UK.
This session examines the practical legal implications of the UK's emerging cryptoasset regime, focusing on FCA authorisation, regulated activities, governance expectations, market integrity obligations, and compliance frameworks. Participants will explore how firms can assess regulatory scope, structure compliant business models, manage cross-border considerations, and respond to the evolving legal landscape for digital assets and tokenised financial products.
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1 activity • 1 videos • duration: 1h 8m
Partner | gunnercooke
James Burnie FRSA is ranked Leading Partner for FinTech Regulatory and Key Lawyer for FinTech: Corporate and Commercial in Legal 500, and Band 1 for Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies in Chambers. In terms of Web3, James has been involved in the industry since advising on the first public cryptoasset issuance from the UK and first equity issuance settled on-chain, and he globally recognised having assisted with drafting around 3% of global crypto regulation. He takes a result-focussed and global approach that includes the quickest, cheapest and fastest route to selling into global markets. His broader regulatory practice is wide ranging, and includes advising payments firms, funds, securities trading entities, banks, and shadow insurance providers. His clients include some of the largest global industry players, as well as start-ups with cost effective MVP and scaling. He has an MA in Law from Cambridge University, and a specialist corporate and commercial LLM from the London School of Economics, where his specialisms included Information Technology and the Law. James has lectured and been an author with LexisNexis, and publishes on FinTech matters, including with the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law as well as being co-author of the RegTech book (Wiley), the Paytech Book (Wiley) and Crypto and Digital Assets Law and Regulation (Sweet &Maxwell).
