From the journal

FCA and Bank of England Publish Joint Vision on UK Wholesale Market Tokenisation, May 2026

On 18 May 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England jointly published a call for input setting out their shared vision for tokenisation in UK wholesale financial markets. The paper commits the Bank to launching a live synchronisation service by 2028 and confirms tokenised equivalents of eligible assets may be used as central bank collateral. Feedback closes 3 July 2026.

2 min read

The FCA and the Bank of England published a joint call for input on 18 May 2026, setting out their shared principles for tokenisation in UK wholesale financial markets. The document is at the consultation stage. It sets out the authorities' approach to enabling the safe adoption of tokenised securities and addresses prudential treatment, tokenised collateral eligibility, and settlement infrastructure. Feedback closes 3 July 2026, with a feedback statement expected later in 2026.

The joint paper draws on the Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS), under which the FCA and Bank have worked with 16 firms on live issuance and settlement of tokenised assets. The Bank confirmed it will launch a live synchronisation service targeted for 2028, enabling cash-leg settlement of tokenised securities against central bank money. The FCA has indicated it will review how its Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS) rules apply to digital-native securities, and the Bank has confirmed that tokenised equivalents of already-eligible assets may be used as collateral in central bank operations and at central counterparties.

Broker-dealers, custodians, central counterparties, and fund managers in UK wholesale markets now have a stated regulatory position on the path to tokenised securities issuance and settlement. Banks using tokenised assets as collateral in repo and derivatives transactions have a stated eligibility position from the Bank of England. Technology providers building tokenisation infrastructure for DSS participants or prospective DSS entrants should engage with the call for input feedback questions before the 3 July 2026 deadline.

The FCA separately published Policy Statement PS26/7 on fund tokenisation in April 2026, confirming guidance for authorised fund managers. The joint vision document does not address retail tokenised product distribution or decentralized finance protocols. Open questions remain on how UK tokenisation regulation will interact with the EU DLT Pilot Regime and whether equivalence arrangements will apply post-Brexit.

Licentium advises on UK digital asset regulation, FCA authorization requirements for crypto-asset activities, and engagement with the Digital Securities Sandbox and related consultation processes. We assist UK wholesale market participants, custodians, and tokenisation platform operators on regulatory strategy and compliance. Work we undertake includes FCA authorization, digital asset regulatory analysis, tokenisation project structuring, and consultation response drafting.

Source: Call for Input: The Future of Tokenisation, FCA and Bank of England, 18 May 2026

Crypto Regulatory

More from the journal

See all

MAS and Industry Publish AI Risk Management Toolkit for Singapore Financial Sector, 2026

The Monetary Authority of Singapore concluded Project MindForge Phase 2 in early 2026, publishing an AI Risk Management Operationalisation Handbook developed with a consortium of 24 banks, insurers, and capital market firms. The handbook provides practical implementation guidance across traditional AI, generative AI, and agentic AI systems, and applies alongside the MAS Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence Risk Management to establish supervisory expectations for Singapore-regulated financial institutions.

House of Lords Committee Publishes Report on UK Stablecoin Regulation, 3 June 2026

On 3 June 2026, the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee published 'Stablecoins: waiting for regulation,' assessing the Bank of England's and the Financial Conduct Authority's proposed regulatory regimes for stablecoins in the UK. The Committee broadly supports the proposals but recommends reconsideration of holding limits, the requirement for unremunerated backing assets, and the proposed restriction on commercial banks issuing fiat-backed stablecoins.

FCA and Bank of England Call for Input on UK Wholesale Market Tokenisation, May 2026

On 18 May 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Bank of England, and the Prudential Regulation Authority published a joint call for input setting out a shared vision for the safe adoption of tokenisation in UK wholesale financial markets. The consultation covers tokenised bonds, equities, and fund units and closes 3 July 2026. Responses will inform a joint roadmap aligned with the Government's Wholesale Financial Markets Digital Strategy.

Ready to launch without the regulatory guesswork?

Book a 30-minute consultation. We'll map your AI or licensing path and tell you exactly what's required, in plain language.