UK FCA makes pound stablecoin payments 2026 priority

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has designated British pound-denominated stablecoin payments as a top policy priority for 2026 as part of its "ambitious new growth measures" to enhance the UK's global financial hub status. To facilitate this, the FCA is opening a dedicated regulatory sandbox, allowing prospective issuers to test stablecoin solutions in a controlled environment before the full 2026 regulatory regime takes effect; applications for this sandbox are due by January 18, 2026. This move is intended to support UK-issued stablecoins for faster and more convenient payments. Concurrently, the FCA is seeking industry feedback on draft guidance papers feeding into the 2026 framework. This regional push for digital asset regulation mirrors efforts elsewhere, such as Guernsey's Financial Services Commission (GFSC) consulting on its Digital Finance Initiative, which mandates 100% backing by high-quality liquid assets for stablecoins.

(Source：Cointelegraph)