UK Financial Conduct Authority Selects 4 Firms for Stablecoin Sandbox
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has chosen four companies to test stablecoin services under proposed regulations. The sandbox program will inform final UK stablecoin rules expected later in 2026.
Revolut Among FCA Stablecoin Trial Participants
The Financial Conduct Authority has selected four companies to participate in its stablecoin Regulatory Sandbox, marking a significant step in shaping the United Kingdom’s crypto framework.
Out of 20 applicants, the FCA chose Monee Financial Technologies, Restabilise, Revolut, and VVTX to test how their stablecoin models operate under proposed regulatory standards.
The initiative forms part of the FCA’s broader push to balance innovation with consumer protection. Through the Regulatory Sandbox, firms can trial products in real-world conditions while operating within defined safeguards. The regulator will focus primarily on stablecoin issuance, examining use cases spanning retail payments, wholesale settlement, and crypto trading infrastructure.
Testing begins in the first quarter of 2026. Insights gathered will feed directly into the FCA’s final stablecoin rulebook, expected later in the year.
Matthew Long, the FCA’s director of payments and digital assets, said the program is designed to ensure stablecoins can be trusted for payments, settlement, and trading. He added,
It will benefit consumers and financial transactions and help to deliver the FCA’s strategy and the Government’s National Payments Vision.
The sandbox complements parallel initiatives such as the Digital Securities Sandbox, reinforcing the UK’s ambition to position itself as a regulated hub for digital assets rather than a speculative outpost.
In practical terms, this means firms will receive direct feedback from FCA specialists while regulators observe how stablecoin reserves, governance, and operational controls function in live environments. That hands-on oversight could prove critical as jurisdictions worldwide debate how tightly to regulate dollar-pegged tokens.
The UK’s measured approach stands out. Instead of rushing into full authorization or broad restrictions, regulators are choosing structured experimentation. For a sector often criticized for regulatory uncertainty, clarity may prove more valuable than speed.
FAQ 🇬🇧
- Which companies were selected for the FCA stablecoin sandbox?
The FCA selected Monee Financial Technologies, Restabilise, Revolut, and VVTX from 20 applicants to test stablecoin services under proposed UK regulations.
- When does stablecoin testing begin in the UK?
The FCA’s Regulatory Sandbox testing for stablecoin issuance is scheduled to begin in Q1 2026.
- What is the purpose of the FCA stablecoin sandbox?
The sandbox allows firms to trial stablecoin products in real-world conditions so regulators can refine clear, effective, and innovation-friendly rules.
- How will this affect UK stablecoin regulation in 2026?
Findings from the sandbox will directly shape the UK’s final stablecoin regulatory framework expected later in 2026.
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