UK House of Lords Forces Treasury to Draft National Digital Assets Strategy
Lords approve digital assets strategy amendment
The UK House of Lords passed an amendment on 11 September 2026 that obliges the Treasury to create a national strategy for digital assets. The vote was 194 in favour and 138 against.
Key numbers
- Vote count: 194‑138
- Amendment introduced by Baroness Neville‑Rolf, a former Treasury minister
- Regulatory framework for cryptoassets to take effect on 25 October 2027
Amendment details
The new clause, titled “Digital assets strategy,” requires the Treasury to prepare, publish and consult on a plan for regulating and developing cryptoassets, qualifying stablecoins, central bank digital currencies, tokenised securities and other tokenised financial assets.
UK regulatory timeline
The Financial Conduct Authority finalised its cryptoasset regulatory framework in June 2026. An authorisation gateway for firms opened on 30 September 2026 and will run until 28 February 2027.
International backdrop
Europe’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets regulation has been in force for service providers since 30 December 2024. In the United States, the GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, created a federal framework for dollar‑backed tokens. The broader US market‑structure legislation, the Clarity Act, cleared the House in July 2025 but remains stalled in the Senate.
What is confirmed
The House of Lords approved the amendment with a 194‑138 vote. The amendment obliges the Treasury to draft a digital assets strategy covering cryptoassets, stablecoins, CBDCs and tokenised securities. The FCA’s cryptoasset framework will start on 25 October 2027, and the authorisation gateway is open from 30 September 2026 to 28 February 2027.
Uncertainties
The source does not detail how the Treasury will implement the strategy, the exact timeline for its publication, or the specific regulatory measures that will follow.
Why it matters
Requiring a national strategy signals the UK’s intent to regulate emerging digital financial products and to keep pace with regulatory moves in the EU and the US.
