Digital Assets

Regulatory expertise for digital and crypto asset firms

We provide specialist digital assets compliance support for crypto and digital asset firms navigating the UK’s evolving regulatory landscape. With the FCA expanding its oversight of cryptoassets beyond anti-money laundering registration to a full authorisation regime, firms face increasingly demanding compliance requirements.

Drawing on direct experience at leading digital asset firms including OKX and Copper Technologies, we understand the operational complexity and regulatory challenges facing exchanges, custodians, and staking providers.

Sector Overview

Digital asset firms in the UK now operate under multiple overlapping regulatory frameworks. The cryptoasset financial promotions regime requires clear, fair and not misleading communications, while current AML registration and forthcoming authorisation requirements demand robust systems and controls. In addition, firms holding client assets must prepare for the application of CASS-style safeguarding requirements.

Whether you operate an exchange, custody provider, staking service, or tokenisation platform, our digital assets compliance expertise helps you meet regulatory expectations while building for growth.

Sector-Specific Challenges

Investment platforms we work with commonly face:

  • Preparing for the new FCA cryptoasset authorisation regime
  • Meeting financial promotions requirements for cryptoasset marketing
  • Implementing robust AML systems, controls and governance
  • Developing safeguarding arrangements for client cryptoassets
  • Building operational resilience for critical business services
  • Applying Consumer Duty principles to retail crypto customers
  • Managing regulatory change as the UK framework evolves

We help firms tackle these challenges proactively, so that compliance supports rather than hinders business development.

Recent insights and articles on digital assets compliance

SMCR: Scope, Enhanced Scope /Limited Scope Firms, and Reducing Burden

Compliance
Explore the proposed SMCR scope changes for enhanced and limited scope firms and the potential market impacts.

SMCR: Certification and Certified Persons, Significant Harm Functions

Documents Verification
Explore the Significant Harm Functions and their impact on certification requirements within the Certification Regime.

Breaking Down the SMCR Shake-Up

Buildings
SMCR shake-up: See what the consultations mean for firms and managers. Discover what the SMCR shake-up means.

FCA Intensifies Focus on Transaction Reporting and STORs Amid Growing Market Abuse Risks 

Transaction Reporting
FCA tightens oversight on transaction reporting and STORs, focusing on spread betting and CFD sectors to enhance market integrity

Tackling Non-Financial Misconduct

Learn what firms must implement by September 1, 2026—from policies and culture diagnostics to training and incident reporting under FCA CP25/18.

Implications Of The New FCA Regulatory Initiatives Grid

Implications Of The New FCA Regulatory Initiatives Grid - Leaman Crellin
The April 2025 Regulatory Initiatives Grid signals a decisive reset: regulators, steered by the Government’s growth agenda, are pivoting from EU-inherited rules to a leaner, UK-tailored framework.

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Let’s discuss how we can support your business.