The United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority began taking applications on Wednesday from crypto businesses that want authorization under its new regime. The report was published Sep. 30, 2026. The regime is due to start in October, and the headline puts it in 2027.
Firms that plan to keep operating in the UK are expected to apply by Feb. 28, 2027, the end of that February. This window is the path into the new regime for businesses already active in the country.
Firms already registered for money laundering purposes will not be moved into the new regime automatically. That registration will not become FCA authorization. They must apply like any other business.
The report does not say how many firms are affected or how many are expected to apply. It also does not say what happens to a firm that misses the deadline, or whether any particular exchange is taking part.
For someone who already holds a perpetual position, this changes nothing directly. The report does not mention Bitget, Bybit, MEXC or OKX. It also says nothing about perpetual futures, funding rates, trading fees or liquidity. It is about who may operate in the UK and when they must apply, not about what it costs to hold a position today.
Source: cointelegraph — FCA opens crypto authorization window ahead of 2027 UK regime