2026-01-09 10:32:29

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released an important regulatory timeline. Next September, cryptocurrency-related businesses will have a licensing application window. Following that, the new regulatory framework will officially come into effect in October 2027—giving all participants less than a year and a half to prepare.

It is particularly important to note that old anti-money laundering registration or payment licenses will not automatically upgrade. Existing license holders need to proactively reapply or modify their current permits. Missing the deadline could be problematic—companies that fail to get approval before the deadline will enter a transition period, during which they can only maintain existing operations, and new service expansions will be frozen. This is a clear signal for organizations looking to expand their operations: time is tight, and compliance actions should be initiated early.

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DegenWhisperer

· 01-11 12:20

Less than a year and a half? Laughable. These British guys really think crypto companies all have professional compliance teams. The reality is that a bunch of small exchanges simply can't keep up. --- Not automatically upgrading old licenses feels like setting a trap for those who are unprepared. When the transition period comes, they’ll be stuck and unable to do anything. --- With such a tight deadline, early entrants will definitely have the advantage, while later ones will be forced to pause expansion. The rules of this game are really tricky. --- Wait, it doesn’t take effect until October 2027? Why are they in such a rush now? There’s still time. --- It sounds good to say it’s to prepare for the future, but in reality, it’s just about pushing out a wave of non-compliant small players, and the compliance costs will be passed on to users. --- Application windows start next September? It feels like there will be a wave of concentrated crashes. Can the FCA’s system handle it? Not afraid of another big approval backlog.

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RektCoaster

· 01-11 01:04

Oh no, FCA is causing trouble again, applying starting September next year? Brothers, you need to hurry up, or you'll be frozen out by 2027. The wave of not automatically upgrading old licenses is really a trap; many projects will have to start over. Instead of waiting, it's better to start preparing now. You know the consequences of missing the deadline... Compliance costs are soaring again, small projects really can't bear it. With FCA's moves, it feels like they are clearing the field one by one. The UK’s regulatory crackdown is fierce; crypto companies need to prepare for a long-term fight. If you can't get it done before the deadline, you'll have to just lie flat and maintain the status quo. This is a nightmare for institutions looking to expand. Less than a year and a half of preparation time? The schedule is really tight. Don't think you can lazily upgrade your old license; FCA wants you to do it again voluntarily.

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ContractHunter

· 01-09 17:36

Wow, FCA really caught everyone off guard with this move... Starting the application process in September next year? The time left for us is indeed quite tight. Old licenses can't be used directly and need to be redone... Now those projects wanting to expand will have to speed up, or it will be awkward if they get frozen directly in 2027.

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DefiPlaybook

· 01-09 11:02

According to data, the actual preparation window for FCA's recent actions is only 18 months, with a compression rate of approximately 67% from application to implementation. It is worth noting that the setting of non-automatic upgrade for old licenses means that the approximately 1,500+ existing licensed institutions need to go through the re-approval process entirely— from a risk management perspective, this is equivalent to subjecting the entire ecosystem to a stress test again.

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BearMarketLightning

· 01-09 11:02

Damn, a year and a half of preparation time? This must be rushing against the deadline. I didn't expect FCA to move at this speed. --- It's not automatic upgrades, and you still have to proactively reaffirm? Some institutions are probably about to fall into the trap again. --- Freezing new business expansion—this is a nightmare for ambitious people. I get nervous just thinking about it. --- Compliance really needs to be pushed forward; if you delay, you'll just be waiting to get stuck. --- Less than a year and a half? Brothers, get ready to be repeatedly messed with by FCA.

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NestedFox

· 01-09 11:02

Next September application window, effective October 2027, there's really not much time left for everyone. The key is that old licenses won't automatically upgrade; you have to actively reapply. This move is a bit harsh. Missing the deadline will directly lead to a freeze period, and you can only rely on existing funds. It's definitely pushing all institutions to act quickly. As for compliance, it's better to get it done early rather than delay. But to be fair, this pace isn't very friendly to small institutions. Big firms have already been preparing, and we latecomers need to step up. The UK’s regulatory implementation is quite instructive, and domestic regulations will likely follow suit. With such a tight timeline, it seems the compliance departments will have to work overtime this winter. FCA's tough approach is impressive; I respect it. The entire industry is about to go through a thorough cleaning.

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PensionDestroyer

· 01-09 10:56

Wow, FCA really doesn't hold back this time. The automatic upgrade thing is just gone, and we have to proactively reiterate it ourselves. Isn't this just giving the compliance department overtime?

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ProbablyNothing

· 01-09 10:52

Oh no, the UK’s recent moves are really rushing the schedule. The application window in September only takes effect in October 2027, and a year and a half doesn’t seem enough at all. I knew the old licenses wouldn’t upgrade automatically. These regulatory agencies just love this approach, forcing companies to proactively face the gun. Honestly, I feel a bit sorry for those institutions trying to expand. Now they have to prepare for both compliance and possibly freezing their business expansion, which is really tough. This time, FCA is serious, not joking around with the timeline. Wait, has anyone calculated how long the entire application process will take? It feels like the few months before the deadline will be even crazier.

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gaslight_gasfeez

· 01-09 10:40

Damn, this deadline is really crazy. Less than a year and a half to finish everything? I feel like many institutions are going to be frozen. I don't understand at all, why can't the old licenses be directly upgraded? Why do they have to reapply? FCA's move is really ruthless. Those who miss out will have their new businesses directly frozen. They're forcing people to work overtime. Compliance costs are about to explode. How can small platforms survive? Wait, the application window only opened in September, and it won't take effect until October 2027. How is the transition period between these dates calculated? Now the crypto world is going to wipe out a batch of unprofessional exchanges. Britain is really ruthless, immediately regulating the entire sector. It feels like they're clearing the field for big players. This pace is a bit rushed, like they're herding ducks onto the shelves.

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