Overview
- On January 9, the FCA listed Ripple Markets UK Ltd as an Electronic Money Institution and granted a Cryptoasset Registration, enabling regulated payment and e‑money services under supervision.
- FCA conditions bar services to retail clients and crypto ATMs, prohibit appointing agents or distributors, and prevent issuing e‑money or providing payment services to consumers, micro‑enterprises or charities without prior consent.
- The approvals position Ripple to scale institutional cross‑border payments in the UK by offering licensed infrastructure to banks and payment providers.
- The UK’s transition plan requires MLR‑registered firms to seek full authorization under FSMA, with applications expected to open in September 2026 and the new regime commencing in October 2027.
- Market response was modest, with XRP hovering around $2.09–$2.13, as Ripple emphasized London’s role as its largest office outside the U.S. and its ongoing compliance focus.