UK crypto firms have been given a five-month application window, from Sep. 30 to Feb. 28, to seek Financial Conduct Authority approval before a new regulatory regime is expected to take effect in October 2027.

The Financial Times published a letter from Zumo founder and CEO Nick Jones, who said the application window gives firms a route into a UK market that some financial institutions had previously considered “too difficult.” In his view, uncertainty over regulation and the risks posed by business partners had held institutions back, even where they understood digital assets and wanted to offer related products.

The FCA’s published timetable puts an exact date on the next step: applications open on Sep. 30, 2026, close on Feb….