UK FCA makes pound stablecoin payments a 2026 priority

The UK’s financial watchdog has put British pound‑pegged stablecoin payments on its 2026 growth agenda, as London scrambles to keep its edge in digital finance.

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has elevated British pound‑denominated stablecoin payments to a top policy priority for 2026, fast-tracking a dedicated regulatory sandbox for prospective issuers ahead of new digital asset regulations.

The watchdog said the move is part of a package of “ambitious new growth measures” for next year, aimed at supporting UK‑issued stablecoins as a way to make payments faster and more convenient.

In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer this week, the regulator outlined nearly 50 reforms aimed at strengthening the UK’s position as a global financial hub. Among them, the FCA flagged advancing UK-issued pound stablecoins in 2026 as a central milestone in its broader growth strategy.

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