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.
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.
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.
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.
