The United Kingdom and the United States are moving closer to forming a joint approach on digital assets, signaling a shift toward a more crypto-friendly regulatory landscape. In a high-level meeting on Tuesday, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with top executives from both the financial and crypto sectors — including representatives from Coinbase, Circle, Ripple, Barclays, and Citi.
According to the Financial Times, the focus of the talks was to explore ways to align crypto policies between the two nations while fostering innovation in the financial technology space.
A Shift Toward Pro-Crypto Policies
The meeting comes in response to growing pressure from UK crypto advocacy groups, who argue that overly cautious regulation has slowed down both innovation and investment. These groups have been calling on the UK government to adopt a more open stance on digital assets, especially as global competition for fintech leadership intensifies.
Stablecoins are expected to play a central role in any future collaboration between the UK and US. This marks a notable return to a more pro-crypto tone reminiscent of the Trump-era policies in the US. Chancellor Reeves reportedly believes that tighter coordination with the US could offer UK-based firms easier access to American markets while also attracting more international investment to Britain.
Cross-Border Sandboxes to Encourage Blockchain Innovation
One of the key developments already in progress is the creation of cross-border regulatory sandboxes. These environments would allow companies from both countries to test blockchain technologies and digital asset solutions in a controlled, compliant space — with fewer barriers to innovation.
Industry leaders have welcomed the move, calling digital assets a “huge opportunity” for the UK to lead in next-generation financial services. By working together, Britain and the US could not only streamline regulatory frameworks but also unlock new possibilities for cross-border payments, decentralized finance (DeFi), and tokenized assets.
As the global financial system evolves, this coordinated push from two of the world’s largest economies could set the tone for how digital assets are integrated into mainstream finance — safely, innovatively, and at scale.
