Crypto regulation: the current state in the UK

The cost of cryptocurrencies has been fairly volatile over the past few months, due in part to new regulations being introduced in many countries. In the United Kingdom, the government has confirmed that they want to regulate cryptocurrencies, particularly certain stable coins that are used as forms of payment.

Investors have conflicting views about this. Some experts foresee positive effects for cryptocurrencies, whereas others believe that regulation could put these instruments at risk, as well as discourage some investors. Let’s look at the status of cryptocurrencies regulation in the UK and what impact this could have on investments.

The increase in the use of cryptocurrencies in 2021 has led the government to discuss regulating the sector. For the time being, no new laws have been introduced; however, some rules for regulating certain cryptocurrencies in the UK are being debated, particularly those used to make payments.

For the government, cryptocurrencies are a real challenge; in fact, not a single country has introduced any specific regulations regarding cryptocurrencies. As you can see from the the official government website, for the time being a consultation process has started between the parties concerned and the industry, with the aim of working out how to ensure higher security and fewer risks without halting innovation and open competition.

In 2018, the government had already set up a task force to explore the impact of cryptocurrencies’ rapid developments. However just a few years later, the scenario completely changed. Stable coins in particular offer notable benefits for fast and cheap payments by simplifying payments and savings management for citizens. 

The issue is mainly tied to protecting consumers from cryptocurrencies’ volatility risks; however, the government wants to maintain the United Kingdom’s role as a global leader in innovative technology. Therefore, regulation is inevitable, but it may be mild and concern only a few cryptocurrencies.

Possible cryptocurrencies regulations are also being discussed in the United States, and their arrival is seen as imminent. President Joe Biden made the first move when he signed the taxation of cryptocurrency ownership into law, applying the same tax used on real estate.

However, here too the rules are unclear; in fact, it has not been clearly outlined how a tax on capital gains from cryptocurrency investments works. In the United States, therefore, regulation of stable coins is expected, making it the first cryptocurrency that could be subject to specific rules, whereas the FED has announced that it will continue to develop a state-issued digital currency. 

The European Union also wants to regulate cryptocurrencies by introducing some rules to reduce risks for consumers, companies and markets linked to crypto activity. In this case as well the rules are not meant to halt innovation and the use of crypto technologies, but to offer more protection to citizens and investors, ensure financial stability and reduce the environmental impact caused by mining activities.

In most countries, there is a debate on at least the partial regulation of cryptocurrencies. This could ensure greater stability, offering important benefits, especially to those who invest long-term in cryptocurrencies.

Firstly, regulation could reduce volatility by increasing the spread of crypto tools, with more of the population using them. Many people are scared about the risks of cryptocurrencies; therefore, a more stable market value could encourage more people to use digital coins.

An increase in protection for investors could also improve trust when it comes to cryptocurrencies, especially if the exchanges are regulated in the same way as other operations within the finance and payment services sector. Clear regulations could also decrease scams and fraud by protecting serious cryptocurrency projects from reputational damage caused by scammers.

On the other hand, the regulation of cryptocurrencies could reduce the number of speculators and investors that want to get rich quick, incentivising more long-term and stable investments. For the time being, the issue remains unresolved; therefore, experts advise not to invest more than 5% of your portfolio in cryptocurrencies at the moment, but to wait for the new regulations to paint a clearer picture of the future of the crypto sector.