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UK Enacts Law Creating New Property Class for Digital Assets

Royal Assent gives courts explicit guidance for ownership, recovery, insolvency.

Overview

  • King Charles approved the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 on Tuesday, with the Lord Speaker confirming Royal Assent in the House of Lords.
  • The statute creates a third category of personal property that covers cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and NFTs, moving beyond prior case-by-case rulings.
  • The law clarifies how courts handle proof of ownership, asset recovery after theft or fraud, and the treatment of digital holdings in insolvency and estates.
  • Parliament passed the measure without amendments, implementing the Law Commission of England and Wales’ 2024 recommendation for statutory recognition.
  • Industry groups welcomed the change as part of a wider U.K. push to build a clearer crypto framework, with regulators also developing a regime for sterling stablecoins and about 12% of adults reported as crypto holders.