TechFlow news, November 26 — According to a report by Decrypt, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released a new research study showing that 12% of UK adults currently hold cryptocurrency, up from a previous 10%. This figure translates to approximately 7 million crypto holders in the UK, a significant increase from 5 million in 2022.
The report found that the average value of crypto assets held per individual has risen from £1,595 to £1,842. Meanwhile, the proportion of users holding between £5,001 and £10,000 worth of crypto assets increased from 6% to 19%. Additionally, only 10% of respondents said they did no research at all before purchasing crypto, while 20% stated that their primary reason for buying crypto was influence from "friends and family".
Matthew Long, FCA's head of payments and digital assets, said the findings highlight the "need for clear regulation to help people better understand the risks." The study also revealed that 26% of non-crypto users would be "more likely" to purchase crypto assets if cryptocurrencies were regulated.
The FCA has also published its cryptocurrency regulatory roadmap, planning to issue discussion papers, consultation papers, and policy statements over the next two years covering topics such as market abuse, stablecoins, and crypto staking and lending. Final policy statements are expected to be issued in 2026, followed by formal implementation.
