Cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance and OKX, have embarked on measures to adhere to the United Kingdom's new Financial Promotions (FinProm) Regime, implemented by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on October 8. The regulations aim to ensure fairness, transparency, and cleanliness in cryptocurrency promotions.
UK Cryptocurrency Regulations: Challenges and Compliance Efforts for Global Firms
On October 6, Binance announced its compliance efforts. It has launched a new domain for UK users and collaborated with the local peer-to-peer lending platform Rebuildingsociety.com. To align with regulatory requirements, Binance's UK retail users were redirected to a localized domain from October 8.
The new domain features only Binance products and services permitted under UK regulations. These include spot and margin trading, Binance Pay, a nonfungible token (NFT) marketplace, loans, and other services. In adherence to the new FCA rules, Binance discontinued certain products, including gift cards, referral bonuses, and academy and research offerings.
These changes apply exclusively to retail users in the UK, not affecting users exempt under the new FinProm rules, such as specific institutional and professional investors. Similarly, OKX released a statement regarding FinProm compliance on October 6. The exchange reduced its token offering to around 40 assets and incorporated prominent risk warnings on its platform. One such warning, displayed at the top of OKX's main page, urges investors to consider the high-risk nature of crypto investments.
It read: "Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong." OKX also introduced a dedicated UK account on X's (formerly Twitter) social media platform, where they promise to highlight products and services compliant with the new UK regulations.
Firms Face Regulatory Scrutiny as Cryptocurrency Regulations Mature
Ensuring compliance with the FinProm rules presents challenges for cryptocurrency firms with a global presence. Matt Sullivan, Deputy General Counsel at crypto payment service MoonPay, acknowledged the complexities, stating that it involves localized product updates, new processes, policies, and company-wide education. He anticipated an initial period of adjustment and potential evolution in the interpretation of certain rules over time.
However, not all cryptocurrency firms have been quick to comply with the new regulations. The FCA recently identified several firms, including major exchanges like KuCoin and HTX (formerly Huobi), as "non-authorized firms" that may have been promoting their services in the UK without authorization. The FCA expanded its warning list to include 143 entities that are not permitted to operate in the United Kingdom.
As cryptocurrency regulations evolve, companies in the industry are navigating a complex landscape to ensure compliance while maintaining global operations.
