FCA Crypto Compliance: What You Need to Know About UK Crypto Rules

When a crypto company says it’s FCA crypto compliance, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority requires it to meet strict rules on security, transparency, and customer protection. Also known as FCA registration, this isn’t just a badge—it’s a legal requirement for any crypto business operating in the UK. If a platform isn’t registered with the FCA, it’s not allowed to offer services to UK residents. That means no trading, no staking, no crypto cards—nothing. The FCA doesn’t just check paperwork; they demand real controls: cold storage for assets, clear risk warnings, and no misleading ads.

This matters because the FCA has shut down dozens of unregistered platforms since 2020. You’ll find posts here about exchanges like COREDAX, a Korea-focused exchange with strong compliance but no UK license, and Criptoloja, Portugal’s first regulated exchange licensed by its central bank. Neither is FCA-registered, which tells you something important: compliance isn’t global. Just because an exchange is licensed in one country doesn’t mean it’s safe for UK users. The FCA treats unregistered platforms as high-risk—and warns users to avoid them entirely.

The FCA also cracks down on fake airdrops, scams, and tokens with no real use. Look at posts about ICOBID (ICOB), a token with zero circulating supply listed on Coinbase but completely dead, or KITTI TOKEN, a Solana meme coin with no community or liquidity. These aren’t just low-value assets—they’re exactly the kind of projects the FCA wants to stop from misleading investors. The FCA doesn’t approve tokens, but it does require platforms to clearly warn users when something is speculative or risky.

What you’ll find in this collection are real cases: exchanges that followed the rules, platforms that got banned, and tokens that vanished overnight. You’ll see how geography affects your access, why some exchanges block UK users even if they’re licensed elsewhere, and how the FCA’s rules compare to places like Thailand, Namibia, or the Philippines. This isn’t about theory—it’s about what actually happened to real people and real money. If you’re trading crypto in the UK, you need to know who’s regulated and who’s not. The FCA doesn’t protect you from losing money—but it does try to keep you from being scammed. That’s the difference.