“Same risk, same regulation only works if you understand the risk.” A thoughtful discussion at the London Business School on whether the UK’s approach to digital assets is helping or hindering its ability to compete for capital and talent.

Bitcoin ≠ “crypto” and regulation should reflect that. Treating all digital assets as one category flattens real differences in risk, governance, and structure. A decentralised monetary network is not the same as an issuer-led token. Good regulation starts with accurate classification. Read more here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Why Bitcoin Shouldn't Be Regulated Like Crypto

Regulatory frameworks continue to treat bitcoin and other cryptoassets as a single category, a decision that has shaped how digital asset policy is...

@Susie Violet @fnew

Bitcoin Policy UK is entering a consolidation phase. After three years of evidence-based Bitcoin policy engagement, BPUK will scale back to a maintenance only core due to a lack of sustainable industry funding. Our mission remains unchanged, and our work will stay publicly available. Read the full statement:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Bitcoin Policy UK Enters Consolidation Phase

London, UK - Wednesday, 21st January 2026. Bitcoin Policy UK (BPUK) has announced that it will enter a consolidation phase, transitioning the organ...

Bitcoin Policy UK is entering a consolidation phase. This means scaling back to a minimal, maintenance-only operation, keeping our research, website, and communications active, to ensure continuity of our work supporting evidence-based Bitcoin policy in the UK. Our mission hasn’t changed. This is about sustainability, responsibility, and preserving what’s been built so far. Thank you to everyone who has supported BPUK along the way. Read our CEO statement here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Announcement from CEO: BPUK Is Entering a Consolidation Phase

After three years helping to build Bitcoin Policy UK, most recently as CEO, I have decided to step down from my role.

Have you subscribed to our podcast yet? “On the Record” is available wherever you get your content. Follow us on @Fountain here: https://fountain.fm/show/BjN75IqanE2DpwJUxG76 In our latest episode, we present an audio version of Bitcoin Policy UK's response to the Bank of England and HM Treasury on the Digital Pound, originally published on 31 May 2023. This paper sets out why a retail CBDC represents a fundamental shift in the relationship between citizens and the state, raising serious concerns around privacy, financial surveillance, programmability, and democratic oversight.

Our CEO @Susie Violet will be speaking on the regulation panel at the London Blockchain Summit 2026!  Panel: "Can the UK Still Win? Regulation, Capital, and the Reality of Competing as a Blockchain Hub" We will discuss UK competitiveness vs. global peers, regulatory frictions pushing firms offshore, capital deployment blockers for institutions, and the key policy levers needed to make the UK an innovation hub.  Come along if you're in London. Tickets: https://clubs.london.edu/Blockchain/rsvp_boot

The UK is wasting billions curtailing renewable energy, paying wind farms to switch off while burning fossil fuels to balance the grid. Bitcoin mining is the only flexible, scalable “buyer of last resort” that can absorb surplus renewables instantly and stabilise the grid. If the UK wants a real green transition, it can’t ignore Bitcoin mining.  Read more here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Why the UK Cannot Have a Green Energy Transition Without Bitcoin

The UK’s transition toward renewable energy is already straining under the weight of its own inefficiencies. The core issues are simple; ren...

@Susie Violet @fnew

Shaping Bitcoin’s Future in the UK: Our Policy Goals for 2026 Bitcoin has reached a turning point in the UK. With formal recognition as property now in place, 2026 will be a defining year for how Bitcoin is treated by policymakers, regulators, and institutions. At Bitcoin Policy UK, our goals for the year ahead include advancing key policy reforms, launching a Tax Working Group, and demonstrating sustainable mining innovations in the UK. This work is only possible with community support. If you believe the UK should be a place where Bitcoin can thrive responsibly, we invite you to read our full 2026 goals and consider supporting our mission:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Shaping Bitcoin's Future in the UK: Our Policy Goals for 2026

As we look ahead to 2026, our focus for the year ahead is clear: to ensure the UK develops smart, fair, and forward looking Bitcoin policy that sup...

@Susie Violet @fnew

On 3 January 2009, the Bitcoin network launched with the mining of its first block, known as the Genesis Block. Embedded in that block was a headline from The Times newspaper: “Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.” The message permanently anchors Bitcoin’s origin to the global financial crisis and the policy responses of that period. Seventeen years on, it still operates under the same core rules. Happy Genesis Day.

Bitcoin Policy UK 2025: a year of real progress. Thanks to our members and supporters, Bitcoin is now formally recognised as property under UK law, a major step for legal clarity, innovation, and adoption. From policy papers to Parliament, events to engagement, we moved the dial. In 2026: we build momentum. Read our CEO’s full year-in-review letter here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Letter from our CEO - 2025 Review of Bitcoin Policy in the UK

This year end post is written as an open letter from our CEO, reflecting on a defining year for Bitcoin policy in the UK. It looks back on the prog...

@Susie Violet @fnew

When it comes to Bitcoin, Africa isn’t waiting, it’s leading. At the African Bitcoin Conference, builders showed how Bitcoin is solving real problems: high remittance fees, broken currencies, limited banking access, and energy gaps. From education to microgrids to circular economies, Africa is using Bitcoin to build real financial freedom. Read more in our latest blog:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Africa Turns To Bitcoin For Real Financial Solutions

The African Bitcoin Conference (ABC) in Mauritius began with an undeniable truth. For generations Africa has been boxed out, priced out and pushed ...

The African Bitcoin Conference showed that you don’t need to wait for permission. Real world adoption, energy innovation and policy coordination are accelerating across the continent. Africa is building the future. It was an honour for @Susie Violet and @fnew to represent Bitcoin Policy UK and be part of these conversations. You can read more about the projects we saw here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/12/05/africa-turns-to-bitcoin-for-real-financial-solutions/

Bitcoin is Property The UK has officially recognised Bitcoin and other digital assets as a new category of personal property under the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025. This is a major step forward for legal clarity, investor confidence and innovation. We are proud that our work at Bitcoin Policy UK has helped drive progress. We’ll continue advocating for fair tax rules and clear regulation in 2026. @Susie Violet @fnew Read more in our latest blog:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Bitcoin Is Officially Property Under UK’s New Property Act 2025

The UK has taken a major step forward in recognising the future of digital assets. On 2 December 2025, the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025 ...

Bitcoin is Property: It's Official Under The UK's Digital Assets Act 2025 The UK has enacted the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025, formally recognising digital assets, including Bitcoin and crypto, as a new category of property. This act, which received Royal Assent from King Charles III and came into force yesterday, introduces a "third category" of personal property beyond traditional things (like physical objects) and claims (like debts or intellectual property). This third type of personal property is digital assets, a class that includes Bitcoin, crypto, NFTs, and other tokenised digital items. This provides legal clarity, enabling better consumer protection against theft, fraud, or disputes in insolvency cases. It also strengthens the foundations for institutional adoption and future innovation across the UK’s digital asset landscape by providing a clear legal basis for ownership and transfer. Bitcoin Policy UK has long championed legal clarity for digital assets, and this milestone reflects the impact of our advocacy, helping drive real, legislative progress in the UK. We remain committed to shaping the next wave of smart, fair regulation. @Susie Violet @fnew

Our CEO Susie Violet Ward and our Chief Policy Officer Freddie New will be speaking at the Africa Bitcoin Conference in Mauritius. We are looking forward to joining builders and advocates from across the continent pushing Bitcoin forward. @Susie Violet will be speaking on Bitcoin and Defending Monetary Freedom. @fnew will be speaking on The Dangers of CBDCs. For more details:

Africa Bitcoin Conference

AFRICA BITCOIN CONFERENCE

Bitcoiners from around the world will gather in Port Louis from December 3 to 5 to celebrate Bitcoin adoption in Africa.

You cannot hold real Bitcoin in an ISA, but you can now gain price exposure tax-free via Bitcoin ETPs. Our blog explains the options available, key providers, risks vs real Bitcoin, and the shifting regulatory position in the UK. A must-read for anyone navigating tax-efficient Bitcoin exposure. Learn more:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Bitcoin Tax-free: How to hold Bitcoin in a Stocks & Shares ISA

If you are (a) a UK citizen, (b) a stocks & shares ISA holder, and (c) curious about saving Bitcoin in a tax-efficient manner, this article - ...

Spotlight: Cartwright - The First UK Pension Fund To Invest in Bitcoin Bitcoin Policy UK is proud to highlight one of our long-standing strategic partners, Cartwright, a pioneering British pension specialist delivering bespoke financial services since 1986. In a landmark move for the UK pensions sector, Cartwright advised the nation’s first pension fund to allocate 3% of its £50 million portfolio directly into Bitcoin, not through spot ETFs, but via direct ownership. This groundbreaking allocation followed a rigorous due diligence process, including extensive reviews of ESG considerations, the investment case, and security and custody standards. Cartwright’s forward-thinking approach demonstrates how traditional financial institutions can apply robust governance, research-led analysis, and risk management to embrace innovative asset classes. Their work sets an important precedent for how UK pension schemes can consider Bitcoin in a responsible and strategic way. We are proud to work alongside organisations like Cartwright who are shaping the future of pensions and helping position the UK as a global leader in responsible Bitcoin adoption. More on:

Cartwright Pension Trusts | The Pension Specialists for DB and Hybrid Schemes

@MUSQET partners with Vodafone to power the future of global payments In a world where digital currencies are redefining finance, Musqet - a UK-based Bitcoin-native payments company - has joined forces with Vodafone to make in-store and online payments faster, safer, and truly borderless. Through Vodafone’s IoT technology, Musqet’s integrated payment terminals can connect securely anywhere in the world, supporting debit, credit, contactless, Bitcoin, and stablecoin payments, all in one simple device. This partnership isn’t just about technology; it’s about financial inclusion and empowerment. Businesses can now serve customers seamlessly, with greater control over funds and access to global markets. Read more about how Musqet and Vodafone are shaping the future of money:

MUSQET

Bitcoin Payment Provider + VISA, AMEX, MasterCard & More | MUSQET

Securely accept card & phone payments in store or online & receive Bitcoin from anywhere in the world. Apple & Google Pay. Get started today.

Have you subscribed to our Substack? Our latest piece is all about: Bitfest 2025: A Three-Day Celebration of Bitcoin and Creativity in Manchester. Follow the link below to read in full.

Bitfest 2025: A Three-Day Celebration of Bitcoin and Creativity

Manchester transforms into the UK’s premier Bitcoin destination this November as it hosts Bitfest 2025 from 21–23 November.

Our CEO @Susie Violet visited Chatham House to speak to the Texas Bankers Association about the UK, Bitcoin and the future of payments. We discussed how Texas is using Bitcoin mining to stabilise renewable grids and how the UK continues to fall behind with broken tax treatment and unclear regulation. The panel also touched on Visa’s plans for programmable money and ‘trusted and controlled’ payments, offering an interesting contrast in how different visions for the future of money are being built. We need to keep the UK focused on innovation, competitiveness and economic resilience. Looking forward to having more conversations like this.