ClearToken Secures FCA Approval As UK Ramps Up Crypto Rules
ClearToken wins FCA approval as Britain races to catch up on stablecoin and digital asset rules
UK-based digital asset clearing and settlement firm ClearToken has secured authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to launch its institutional crypto settlement platform, in a move that highlights Britain’s push to tighten and modernize its digital asset rules.
The approval allows ClearToken to operate CT Settle, a Delivery versus Payment (DvP) settlement system designed for spot transactions in cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and fiat currencies. The platform aims to mirror the robustness of traditional market infrastructure, giving banks, brokers and other regulated institutions a way to settle digital asset trades under familiar regulatory and operational standards.
ClearToken says CT Settle is built to address some of the biggest concerns holding institutions back from entering the crypto market: counterparty risk, liquidity constraints and market fragmentation. By centralizing and standardizing settlement, the company hopes to make digital asset trading more efficient and less risky for large, regulated players. Chair Niki Beattie said the FCA’s authorization could act as a catalyst for digital assets “to be adopted at scale” across mainstream finance.
The decision comes as the UK steps up efforts to integrate digital assets into its financial system. The Bank of England this week launched a consultation on stablecoins, outlining rules that could be implemented as soon as next year, while Governor Andrew Bailey has recently taken a more pragmatic tone on stablecoin risks.
Policymakers are also under pressure to ensure the UK does not fall behind the United States and other jurisdictions following the passage of new US stablecoin legislation. In April, HM Treasury set out a draft framework to bring crypto issuance, custody and trading into the regulated perimeter, while the government has opened the door for retail access to crypto exchange-traded notes, signalling a broader bid to pull digital assets firmly into the UK’s oversight regime.
