These steps are aimed at ensuring consumer safety, supporting innovation, and maintaining financial stability amid the explosive growth of the cryptocurrency market.
The document includes a number of proposals concerning various aspects of the crypto industry. Key initiatives include licensing and supervision of crypto exchanges, introducing strict requirements for stablecoins, and creating clear criteria for determining regulated activities.
One of the most important proposals is the introduction of mandatory licensing for crypto exchanges operating in the UK. This should help strengthen anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and ensure investor protection.
As for stablecoins, the government views them as key elements of financial infrastructure. For such cryptocurrencies, it is proposed to introduce stricter requirements, including mandatory reserves and increased operational resilience, in order to minimize risks to the financial system.
The document also touches upon the need to clearly define the types of activities subject to regulation, which will help eliminate uncertainty in the market. This should create a level playing field for all participants and make the crypto asset market more transparent.
The goals of introducing regulation are varied. One of the main ones is to protect consumers, as the cryptocurrency market remains exposed to high risks, such as fraud and significant price volatility. In addition, the government intends to combat financial crimes, such as money laundering and terrorist financing through crypto assets. It is also important to ensure the stability of the financial system by minimizing the potential threats associated with crypto assets.
At the same time, the government seeks to create conditions for further growth of innovation in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain, while ensuring proper control and supervision. This balance should help support the development of new technologies without compromising the security and stability of financial markets.
The consultation on the document is open to the general public, and the UK government is looking forward to receiving feedback, which will help finalize the proposals. The introduction of new rules is expected in the coming years, which will be an important step in the development of crypto asset regulation at the state level.